AGRIC MINISTRY BUILDS 1.21MW POWER PROJECTS, OTHERS

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says it has installed 20,124 units of solar electrification facilities with a combined capacity of 1.21 megawatts and constructed 105 classrooms, as well as 15 public toilets.

The ministry reviewed that the construction of these projects in various rural areas across the country was done between 2015 and 2022.

This was disclosed in a document put together by the ministry’s Department of Rural Development.

The agric ministry also revealed that it constructed rural roads during the period under review, a task that is majorly undertaken by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

Although the document did not state the amount expended on these projects, it stated that the facilities were delivered under the Capital Appropriation, Constituency and intervention funds.

Data in the document showed that out of the total demand for rural roads construction during the period, the Ministry was able to meet 29.4 per cent, leaving a deficit of 70.6 per cent.

The average per year was put at 23.24 per cent, while the deficit was 76.76 per cent.

To clear concerns on why the agric ministry got involved in power, works and water projects, which should be handled by the Federal Ministries of Power, Works and Water Resources, the FEderal ministry of agriculture and rural development explained that the delivered facilities were not outside the mandate of its rural development department.

It notes that the department was envisioned to accelerate the transformation of the nation’s rural life and landscape through the provision of basic infrastructure on a sustainable basis.

It named the infrastructures to include the construction and rehabilitation of rural feeder roads, boreholes, mini water treatment plants, and provision of solar-powered and conventional electricity.