…constructing 300 greenhouses, over 2,000 boreholes in South West 

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – AS food prices continue to reduce, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, Tuesday, commended the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority, O-O RBDA, for boosting food production.

Utsev said the RBDA has been in the forefront of ensuring food production is upscaled based on its efforts clearly seen and which also aligns with the vision of President Bola Tinubu to ensure no Nigerian goes hungry.

The Minister who was represented by the Director, Irrigation and Drainage, Engr Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi, FNSE (Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary), at a 2-day Management Retreat organized by the Ogun-Oshun RBDA, which he declared open in Abuja highlighted some of the projects in focus and those already completed by the River Basin. 

According to him, these include a target of constructing up to 300 greenhouses, with over 70 already completed; the construction of over 2,000 boreholes to enhance water supply and sanitation across areas in the South-West covered by the Basin, with more currently under construction; and the flood and erosion control project at Owakurudu in Ogun State.

‎The Minister  while commending the Ogun–Oshun River Basin Development Authority for this laudable achievements in the  water sector urged the Authority to pursue more greater impacts through strategic initiatives.

‎‎He (Utsev) while further acknowledging the feat already achieved by the Authority’s Management, charged them to enhance their internally generated revenue, redevelop existing assets, and leverage on the partial commercialization of the entire RBDAs to attract private sector investment through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). 

‎‎He also emphasized the importance of teamwork, capacity building, strategic planning and sustainability. He expressed optimism that the retreat would produce actionable strategies to empower more farmers, expand agricultural land use, and ensure affordable food sufficiency for all Nigerians.

‎‎In his goodwill message, the Chairman, O-ORBDA Board, Hon. Segun Odebunmi, stressed that the retreat fosters effective collaboration between management and staff. 

‎Odebunmi noted that improving the procurement process at the River Basin Authority is vital to the Authority’s overall success and alignment with the Ministry’s vision for the WASH sector.

‎‎Earlier in his opening address, the Managing Director of O-ORBDA, Engr Adedeji Ashiru, FNSE, described the retreat as a critical platform for strengthening management synergy, leadership capacity, and the 2026 Work Plan review with SMART objectives. He noted the inclusion of intensive procurement training by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) as deliberate, emphasizing that transparent, compliant, and efficient procurement is fundamental to effective project execution, accountability, and value delivery across Ogun, Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States.

‎‎Engr Ashiru outlined the retreat’s expected outcomes to include enhancing organizational performance, improving operational efficiency, expanding irrigation to boost food security, attracting investors through PPPs, creating jobs, and strengthening water supply and sanitation services. 

He urged participants to actively engage and cascade knowledge to their Departments to ensure that the retreat’s impact reaches all levels of the Authority.

‎‎The Managing Director expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister, the Board Chairman and Members, and the Director-General of the BPP for their support, while reaffirming O-ORBDA’s commitment to institutional excellence, public trust, and the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda for sustainable water resources development.

‎‎The retreat had in attendance the Executive Directors of the River Basin, a representative of the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Engr. Isaiah Yesufu, resource persons from the Bureau, as well as Directors and Deputy Directors.