Senator Emmanuel Anosike, Chairman of the Anambra-Imo River Basin Development Authority (AIRBDA), has called on the Abia State Government to deepen cooperation with his agency to revive dwindling agricultural production across the South-East region, emphasising the strategic importance of food security and agricultural collaboration.
Anosike made the appeal on Tuesday, during a courtesy visit to the country home of Abia State Governor Alex Otti in Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, signalling the start of a regional tour aimed at strengthening partnerships with state governments within the basin’s area of responsibility.
During the meeting, the AIRBDA chairman highlighted a significant decline in productivity across more than 1,300 hectares of land previously cultivated with key staples such as rice, cassava and fish. He attributed this downturn largely to what he described as “weakened collaboration between the authority and state governments.”
Anosike stressed that the Federal Government’s declaration of a state of emergency on food security underscores the urgency of revitalising agriculture across Nigeria. He said stronger partnerships with states, including Abia, are critical to restoring the productivity of farmlands under the basin authority’s mandate.
“This visit is part of a regional tour to introduce members of the management committee and explore areas of collaboration,” Anosike said, explaining the purpose of the engagement with Governor Otti.
“Abia State was chosen as the starting point because of its strategic importance, especially in agriculture, which falls within the core mandate of the Authority.”
Anosike also commended the Abia State administration for its investments in infrastructure, suggesting that enhanced power supply and other economic enablers were already stimulating commercial activities in Aba and Umuahia. Such improvements, he implied, could form a stronger foundation for agricultural expansion if matched with targeted action.
In response, Governor Alex Otti welcomed the AIRBDA delegation and pledged Abia’s “full commitment to partnering with AIRBDA to transform the agricultural sector of the state.”
Otti reiterated that Abia is “open for business and committed to result-driven partnerships,” noting that improved infrastructure and reliable power supply have already enhanced economic activities within the state, a factor that could be harnessed for agricultural development.
To operationalise the collaboration, the governor approved the establishment of a joint technical committee involving the Commissioners for Agriculture, Lands and Environment, as well as the Managing Director of the Abia State Investment Agency, who are expected to work directly with the Authority.
The engagement comes at a time when agricultural stakeholders in the region continue to advocate for more robust government intervention to overcome persistent challenges such as pest damage, inadequate storage, and insufficient financing for farmers, which have constrained productivity and rural economic growth.
Experts say that aligning state governments and development authorities like AIRBDA could be instrumental in tackling some of the structural constraints facing agriculture in the South-East, from water resource management to market access and value-chain integration.
The governor’s positive response signals a willingness among sub-national actors to partner with federal agencies to harness agricultural potential and strengthen food security in one of Nigeria’s key farming belts.
