(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Adams-Oshiomhole-300x226.jpg) Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commended President Godluck Jonathan for the completion of the Ukpoke irrigation project in Benin-City.
While he was receiving the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, who paid him a courtesy visit in Benin recently, the Governor, said that President Jonathan was right for making sure that the project is completed for the benefit of the people.
He said that he agreed absolutely that one of the challenges in the eradication of rural poverty was agriculture. "There is no better way to do it than through agriculture, and irrigation offers opportunity in this respect." He stated.
Oshiomhole congratulated Mrs. Ochekpe for seeing to the completion of the project, which she came to the State to commission.
"That is the way it should be. We appreciate the President for working more consciously to move away from the culture of abandoned projects. Government after government starts new projects and they are not completed, another comes in and start fresh one, in the end you have abandoned projects all over the place"; Oshiomhole remarked.
However, the Governor appealed to the Minister to ensure that the authorities of Benin Owena Basin Authority liaise more closely with relevant ministries in Edo State. He explained that if the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and that of Agriculture do not co-ordinate with the relevant ministries in Edo State, "Our people will not be able to take full advantage of these facilities."
Oshiomhole said that when people are not properly informed they might not recognize the potential of the massive investment which the federal government is making on irrigation.
While speaking earlier, Mrs. Ochekpe had congratulated the Edo State Governor for his developmental strides. "We want to commend you and pray that you will continue to serve the people of Edo State and give dividends of democracy to the state."
The Minister said that President Goodluck Jonathan had ensured that the Ukpoke irrigation project, which has been on for some time, is completed for the benefit of the people of Edo State.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria