SPIN sets up grievance mechanism for Duku-Lade irrigation project

The Sustainable Power and Irrigation Project for Nigeria (SPIN) is to establish a grassroots grievance redress mechanism for farmers, workers and other stakeholders involved in the Duku-Lade Irrigation Scheme in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

The SPIN Environmental Specialist, Engr Oyebankole Agbelusi, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with the Duku-Lade community in Ilorin.

Agbelusi said the Grievance Redress Mechanism Committee would provide a structured channel for beneficiaries and other stakeholders to raise concerns, complaints, enquiries and suggestions arising from the implementation of the irrigation project.

He said the mechanism would ensure that concerns receive timely attention and appropriate responses, while strengthening collaboration between project implementers, government and the benefiting community.

According to him, the Duku-Lade scheme is designed to provide farmers with access to water for irrigation across different seasons.

He said the initiative would also establish a functional system to ensure the proper implementation and sustainability of the irrigation scheme for the benefit of farmers and the wider community.

The Kwara State Government reaffirmed its commitment to the successful implementation and sustainability of the project.

The Commissioner for Water Resources, Usman Yunusa Lade, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Christiana Omolola Asonibare, said the participation of Duku-Lade community members demonstrated their readiness to support the project.

She said the constitution of the grievance redress committee would further promote unity and progress in the implementation of the scheme.

Responding on behalf of the community, the Chairman of the Water Users Association, Mohammed Kitabu, expressed the commitment of members to the successful implementation of the project.

Kitabu appreciated the Federal and Kwara State governments and the World Bank for selecting Duku-Lade for the irrigation intervention.