The Senate has resolved to hold consultations with the Ministers of Finance, Budget and National Planning and Water resources and sanitation over perceived imbalances in the allocation of the 380 billion naira Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund earmarked for irrigation development in the 2025 budget.
The decision was reached during plenary following a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Sen. Kenneth Eze titled ‘Urgent Need to Address the Imbalances in the allocation of the 380 Billion Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund for irrigation development Projects in the 2025 Budget’.
Lawmakers expressed concern that while the 380 billion naira fund which is part of the broader 3.2 trillion naira Renewed Hope Infrastructure Development Fund was designated to boost irrigation across the country, the South-East zone through the Anambra-Imo River basin development authority received no allocation, unlike other regions.
A breakdown of the fund’s distribution reveals significant allocations to other River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), such as:
* Hadejia Jama’are RBDA (North West/North East): N66.9 billion
* Sokoto Rima RBDA (North West): N45.4 billion
* Chad Basin RBDA (North East): N40 billion
* Benin-Owena RBDA (South-South/South-West): N42.2 billion
* Upper Benue RBDA (North East): N40 billion
* Upper Niger RBDA (North Central/North West): N24 billion
* Ogun-Osun RBDA (South-West): N43 billion
* Anambra-Imo RBDA (South-East): NIL
Lawmakers equally noted that this omission is unjustifiable and contradicts constitutional provisions for equitable national development, especially considering the South-East’s vast arable land and historical contributions to Nigeria’s agricultural output.
In a strategic move, the Senate opted to step down the motion on the matter, pending further engagement. The Senate leadership is expected to meet directly with the relevant ministers to address the concerns before taking further legislative action.
