2027: Arewa Revival Project Backs Tinubu, Hails Kano Irrigation Projects

The Arewa Revival Project (ARP) has declared support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027, commending his administration’s ecological interventions in the Kano River Irrigation Scheme.

The group said the Federal Government’s ongoing rehabilitation and expansion initiatives at Tiga Dam, Challawa Gorge Dam and Kafin Chiri Dam in Kano State demonstrated its commitment to food security, climate resilience, rural development and sustainable economic growth in Northern Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its Project Coordinator, Hon. Muttaka Ahmed Ibrahim, the Arewa Revival Project described the projects as strategic investments in Kano State’s agricultural potential, with benefits for farmers, rural households, agribusinesses and the national economy.

The group said the interventions were being implemented through the Ecological Project Office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

According to the statement, the intervention at Tiga Dam, which was completed in 1974, is designed to open new irrigation sectors in Yakasai, Gwamma and Gurjiya, covering approximately 875 hectares, through the development of irrigation canals and associated infrastructure.

The dam has a reservoir capacity of approximately 1.97 billion cubic metres and an irrigation potential of about 230,000 hectares, in addition to supporting 10 megawatts of hydropower generation, the statement said.

At Challawa Gorge Dam, the group said the intervention focuses on developing 240 hectares of irrigable land through the construction and rehabilitation of main canals, distribution channels, field canals, access roads and other hydraulic structures required for efficient water management.

Similarly, the ongoing intervention at Kafin Chiri Dam is expected to open additional irrigation sectors covering approximately 164.91 hectares through the construction of main canals, distribution channels and field canals across the Kunpada, Matanfa and Maida sectors.

The Arewa Revival Project said the projects could support year-round farming, increase agricultural output, create employment opportunities and strengthen the resilience of communities against climate-related challenges by improving access to irrigation.

It added that the initiatives aligned with the objectives of the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in food security, economic diversification, poverty reduction and inclusive development.

The group also noted that improving irrigation infrastructure in Kano State could unlock farmers’ productive capacity, encourage private investment in agribusiness and strengthen food supply chains.

However, it stressed that the long-term success of the projects would depend on timely completion, effective maintenance, transparent implementation and the active involvement of beneficiary communities.

It therefore called on relevant government agencies, local stakeholders and farming communities to support the projects and ensure that the infrastructure delivered its intended benefits.

Explaining its support for Tinubu’s re-election bid, the group said continuity in leadership offered an opportunity to consolidate ongoing projects, expand development initiatives and sustain efforts towards national economic transformation.

The Arewa Revival Project further called for a holistic approach to ecological remediation in Northern Nigeria, stressing the need to balance biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability with the socio-economic well-being of local communities.

It described the Kano River Irrigation Special Ecological Project as a demonstration of how ecological remediation could be combined with community engagement, livelihood support and sustainable agricultural opportunities.

The group said environmental restoration should translate into improved livelihoods, resilient communities and lasting socio-economic benefits for Kano State and the wider Arewa region.