Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Prof. Joseph Utsev, has empowered hundreds of Benue women, youths and the physically challenged with cars, motorcycles and several other items.
Presenting the items to the beneficiaries on Saturday in Makurdi, Utsev appreciated them for their resilience and continued support for President Bola Tinubu, Sen. George Akume and the APC.
He said the aim of the empowerment was to boost irrigation farming in Benue, to achieve food security in line with the renewed hope agenda of the president.
The minister said it was also to encourage them to engage in commercial agriculture, boost their transport business and reduce youth restiveness.
He listed items for the distribution to include, five Toyota Corolla cars, 120 motorcycles, 120 sewing machines, 120 grinding machines 150 irrigation pumps, communication gadgets and others.
On water supply across the country, Utsev said his ministry has constructed dams in each of the six geo political zones in the country to boost irrigation farming and water supply.
He said some of the dams would also address the annual flooding challenges experienced by some states across the federation.
Utsev hiministry had completed 138 mini water schemes in the state to boost water supply in the rural areas.
“We are constructing dams to boost irrigation farming and check river flooding at the banks of River Katsina-Ala and the banks of River Benue.
“Construction of water schemes across the country is ongoing and in all the 23 Local Government Areas in Benue in order to end water scarcity in rural communities communities,” he said.
He said President Tinubu deeply appreciate the Benue people for voting for him massively in 2023 and urged them to redouble the support in 2027.
The minister appealed to those who are yet to get their voters card to register and get one to be eligible to vote in 2027.
Utsev thanked the Akume for recommending him as commissioner in Benue, director Lower Benue River Basin Development Authority, as minister of the federal Republic of Nigeria among others.
Speaking on behalf of the women beneficiaries, Mrs Awuese Torheer, APC State Woman Leader commended the minister for remembering women in the state.
Torheer said the minister has done far more than those the women voted into various offices in the state in 2023 and prayed God to continue to bless the works of his hands.
Speaking on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mr Mkav Pepe, Buruku LG APC chairman deeply appreciated the Minister for the gifts and pledged to continue working for the victory of APC in the coming elections. (NAN)
