President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the sum of N24 billion for the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) to facilitate the execution of a smart modular irrigation project, with a pilot scheme located in Adamawa State.
Executive Vice Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NASENI, Prof. Mohammed Sani Haruna, said other areas of application of this fund include the development and domestications of technologies that NASENI has acquired from a partnering organisation in Italy, de Lorenzo, production of technical science laboratory equipment for primary school, secondary school and tertiary institutions.
Prof. Haruna made the disclosure on Friday, while addressing newsmen shortly after he met with the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The CEO, who said his mission was to brief President Buhari on the financial operations of the agency, explained that the modular irrigation project would enhance agricultural development in the country, and enabling farmers to produce crops three times round the year.
Dismissing insinuations of suspicious dealings, he explained that the President, who is the Executive Chairman of the agency, requires regular briefing on the state of the affairs of the agency as well as status of the accounts.
“It’s not for anything suspicion, but we have been asking for funding and more funding. Last week, the President approved N24 billion for smart irrigation system on request by NASENI and only 1% fro Federation Account was given to us. So, it was his thought that if our money was remitted, why asking for further funding,” he said.
Speaking the funding, he said, “The funding was for the modular irrigation system. We have acquired a 10-hectare farmland on lease in Adamawa State, using water from River Benue, where the pilot scheme is starting. It’s estimated that based on the technologies to be used, it is possible to have three multi-crop seasons in a year, commencing from October this year.
