The Federal Government, through the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), has launched the Irrigate Nigeria Project in Gamawa Local Government Area of Bauchi State, aiming to enhance farmers’ income and promote year-round farming across the country.

The initiative, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is a collaborative effort between NASENI and the Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund (RHIDF), with private sector involvement at its core. According to Halilu, the program is designed to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector by providing sustainable irrigation systems, increasing food production, and stabilizing food prices.

As part of the pilot phase, the project kicked off on a 10-hectare farmland in Gamawa under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, emphasizing large-scale farming for sustainability. Halilu highlighted four key components for its success: deployment of centralized irrigation systems to support farming clusters, provision of high-quality seeds, fertilizers, and technical assistance to farmers, a commercially viable model to ensure long-term sustainability, and a repayment plan based on harvest portions, allowing farmers to contribute part of their produce, such as rice paddy, to a strategic food reserve aimed at stabilizing prices and boosting exports.

Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State praised President Tinubu and the Federal Government for selecting Gamawa as the first beneficiary of the nationwide initiative. He described the project as a major step toward achieving food security, economic empowerment, and national stability, aligning with Bauchi State’s broader goals of expanding irrigation farming and reducing dependence on rain-fed agriculture.

“This project goes beyond farming; it is a structured intervention that prioritizes inclusivity, accountability, and long-term economic impact,” the governor stated, adding that it will create a multiplier effect across the agricultural value chain while promoting modern farming techniques and equitable wealth distribution.

Dr. Mohammed Dahiru, Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Technology Transfer (PICTT), emphasized the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approach as a key strategy for ensuring the project’s sustainability. He noted that unlike past government-funded initiatives that failed, private sector involvement will drive efficiency and accountability.

“No private sector investor funds a project and allows it to fail. This initiative is structured to succeed beyond government support, ensuring long-term benefits for Nigerian farmers,” Dahiru explained.