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FG Drives Food Security with Solar-Powered Irrigation in Oyo
Nigeria’s Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has emphasized that achieving food sufficiency remains a critical goal for President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Utsev made this statement during an inspection tour of the solarisation process at the Pivot Irrigation Unit, part of the Middle Ogun Irrigation Project located in Iseyin, Oyo State.
The minister highlighted that the administration’s commitment to food production, job creation, and economic growth aligns with the broader objectives outlined in President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He reiterated that the Federal Government is dedicated to providing the necessary infrastructure and resources to boost agricultural productivity across the country.
The solarisation of the irrigation unit and its connection to the national power grid are key elements in promoting irrigation farming and reducing dependence on costly diesel-powered generators.
“The Middle Ogun Irrigation Project, initiated in 1990, originally aimed to bring 12,000 hectares of land under cultivation.
At that time, diesel-powered generators were used to fuel the irrigation systems.
However, due to rising diesel costs and other challenges, we are now transitioning to solar energy and connecting the facility to the national grid,” Utsev explained.
The minister also provided an update on the progress of these critical upgrades, revealing that 95 percent of the connection to the national grid had been completed, while the solarisation aspect of the project was about 85 percent finished.
These improvements are expected to significantly enhance irrigation capabilities, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective solution for farmers.
Alhaji Dauda Ademola, Chairman of the Middle Ogun Irrigation Project Farmers Association, expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government for its efforts to modernize the irrigation infrastructure.
He called on the government to expedite the completion of the ongoing projects and ensure that additional facilities are put in place to further support irrigation farming.
Ademola emphasized that timely execution would not only benefit the farmers but also contribute significantly to Nigeria’s agricultural output and food security goals.
The transformation of the Middle Ogun Irrigation Project is part of the larger strategy to harness renewable energy for agriculture, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and encourage the growth of Nigeria’s farming sector.
Through initiatives like this, the government hopes to enhance food production, create more employment opportunities, and ultimately strengthen the economy.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has reportedly declared a strike at Taraba State University over outstanding salary-related demands and delays in payments.
The strike is scheduled to begin today, October 12, 2026. According to the union’s chairman, the union had been engaging the Taraba State Government over its outstanding demands since February 2026.
“The union had exercised considerable patience and demonstrated its commitment to dialogue since February 2026, when it began engaging the Taraba State Government over the outstanding issues,” Mbave said.
“The union had earlier suspended its planned industrial action following an appeal by the government for additional time through the Office of the Head of Civil Service, in the interest of maintaining industrial harmony,” the chairman added.
The Chairman of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, Torseer Yina, has imposed a dusk-to-dawn curfew in the ancient town.
The curfew takes effect from Thursday, October 8, 2026, following unrest and violent protests in the area.
According to reports, the action was taken to contain the unrest and violent protests by members of BEMOA following the death of one of its members by unknown gunmen.
The protest, which was reportedly hijacked by hoodlums, turned violent after an angry mob burnt two vehicles belonging to the Benue State Civil Protection Guards.
The Gboko council chairman said the curfew takes effect immediately and warned that anyone caught flouting the order or breaching public peace would be decisively dealt with.
Nine people have died in a fatal road crash along the Ijebu-Ode-Benin Expressway in Ogun State.
The crash occurred on Monday at about 4:55pm around the Bethel area along the Ijebu-Ode/Ore axis of the expressway. It involved a white Toyota Hiace commercial bus belonging to Delta Line and a white Sino truck operated by Bill Gas Solution Ltd.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), all nine people involved in the crash, comprising three males and six females, died in the incident.
The FRSC said the crash occurred while it was raining and the road was wet, with preliminary investigations identifying speed violation as the probable cause.
The FRSC rescue team arrived at the scene shortly after receiving the report, while the bodies of the victims were taken to the General Hospital Morgue in Ijebu-Ode.
The Ogun State Sector Commander, Oludare Ogunjobi, urged motorists, especially commercial drivers, to obey speed limits and exercise extra caution when driving in the rain.
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