The Tor Tiv and Chairman of the Benue State Council of Chiefs, His Royal Majesty Orchivirigh Professor James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, has urged the Federal Government to construct more dams in Benue to enhance food production and ensure food security in the state.
Professor Ayatse made the call during a meeting with the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, at his Palace in Gboko.
Highlighting the potential of Benue’s fertile land, the Tor Tiv emphasized that constructing more dams would enable agricultural activities to take place throughout the year, boosting food production and ultimately, achieving food security.
He requested that the Minister coordinate with the traditional institution in the state to identify areas that are in urgent need of water sources for the construction of dams to be utilized for irrigation farming and other purposes.
Expressing his pride in the Minister’s appointment, the Tor Tiv thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing one of his sons to serve in a strategic ministry crucial to human life. He commended the Minister’s exceptional performance thus far.
The Chairman of the Benue Council of Chiefs assured Professor Utsev of his unwavering support and encouraged him to work alongside President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, to bring positive change to Nigeria and inspire hope among its people.
In his remarks, Minister Engineer Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev explained that he visited the Tor Tiv to update him on his progress as Minister and seek his blessings.
Recalling his employment as a lecturer by the Tor Tiv at the Joseph Saawuam Tarka University Makurdi in 2006, where he eventually rose to the rank of a full Professor, Professor Utsev expressed his gratitude to the Paramount Ruler for his contribution to his career development.
He informed the Tor Tiv that his ministry has been tasked with utilizing over five hundred thousand irrigable lands across twelve River Basins in the country for cultivation, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to ensure food security. The Minister reiterated his commitment to fulfilling this mandate.
Professor Utsev also appealed to the Tor Tiv to support the campaign against open defecation in his domain, urging him to encourage his subjects to abandon the practice and contribute to achieving the open defecation-free target by 2025.
Following the meeting, the Minister proceeded to Ushongo local government, accompanied by the Managing Director of the Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, Engineer Mohammed Adra, to commission the Lessel Dam and inaugurate the Gajir/Abunde Irrigation Farming program.
