Sponsor of the bill and Member representing Yala 2 State Constituency, Hon Odey Brian.
By Itam Offor
Regulations on Irrigation, Dams, Reservoirs, and others are underway in Cross River as the State Irrigation and Dams Authority Bill 2025 has been read a second time on the floor of the State Assembly.
Subsequently, the bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Agriculture and Water Resources for further legislative procedures.
Opening debate on the bill, Wednesday, April 2, the Lead Sponsor and Member representing Yala 2 State Constituency, Hon Odey Brian Wonah, disclosed that the proposed legislation is to establish the Irrigation and Dams Authority which “will conceptualize, design, procure, manage and regulate Irrigation, Dams and Reservoirs in the sate”.
Odey, who is the Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the House, stated that the proposed Irrigation and Dams Authority will have it’s headquarters in Calabar with Zonal Offices in the three Senatorial Districts of the State.
He enumerated the functions of the Irrigation and Dams Authority to include, amongst others;
The regulation and supervision of the operations and maintenance of irrigation and Dams infrastructure to ensure optimal performance and efficient use of water resources.
The Yala Lawmaker stressed that the State will greatly benefit from the bill, when passed into Law, in several ways including greater food production through mechanised farming, food security as well as creation of job opportunities to discourage rural urban migration.
Also Speaking, the Deputy Leader and Member representing Abi State Constituency, Rt Hon Davies Etta one of the Co-sponsors of the bill, reiterated that it will add value to farmers and enhance food production.
Other Members overwhelmingly supported the bill stressing that it will lead to food security as crops will be grown all year round adding that “crops like rice and maize can be grown twice a year with proper irrigation system”.
Concluding the debate, the Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem stressed the significance of the proposed legislation before directing the Clerk, Barr Catherine Ubi to read it a second time.