The Cross River Basin Development Authority (CRBDA) has initiated a comprehensive site inspection of its vital dam and irrigation facilities across Cross River and Akwa Ibom States, aimed at identifying critical areas for immediate repair and maintenance.
The delegation, led by the CRBDA Chairman, Mr. Wabilly Nyiam, is undertaking the needs assessment to gain a firsthand understanding of the operational status of water management systems under the Authority’s purview. The primary objective is to restore and enhance the capacity of these infrastructures which are essential for increasing agricultural productivity through reliable, year-round water supply for irrigation.
According to the Chairman, the assessment has become necessary to carry out site inspections of critical dams and irrigation activities in the two states to revitalize systems that before now used to manage and supply water, primarily for increasing agricultural productivity by ensuring crops receive sufficient water for growth and year-round production.
Beyond supporting agriculture, the eventual repair and rehabilitation efforts are expected to yield multiple benefits. These include upscaling the portable supply of drinking and industrial water, improving flood control mechanisms, enhancing waterways for navigation and stabilizing water storage for dry farming periods, thereby catering to various human and environmental water needs.
Some of the key sites visited so far by the Chairman and his team include the Itu Irrigation Project in Itu Local Government Area and the Irruan Dam project, both in Akwa Ibom State. In Cross River State, inspections have covered facilities in Ogoja, Obubra, Itigidi, and most recently, Obudu. These visits are critical for gaining insight into the projects’ current operations and pinpointing necessary areas for improvement and maintenance.
The CRBDA anticipates that this exercise will pave the way for a major infrastructure overhaul to meet the growing demand for water resources in the region.
