Thousands of farmers under the Bakolori Irrigation Scheme in Zamfara State have commended Senator Abdul’aziz Yari representing Zamfara West Senatorial District over his intervention to address the challenges confronting the popular Bakolori Dam located in Maradun Local Government Area of the state.
Yari, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Water Resources, is facilitating the revival of Bakalori Dam that significant impacts food production in Zamfara State and Nigeria.
The Bakolori Irrigation Scheme under the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority, suffered for many years from faulty irrigation gates, siltation and blocked secondary drains, crippling dry season farming and threatening food security of Zamfara and Nigeria.
On October 4, 2026 the APEX Water Users Association, forwarded a request letter to Senator Yari seeking for his urgent intervention on the current situation of Bakalori Dam.
Receiving the request letter, Yari directed K.K Technologies Limited to lead immediate rehabilitation works.
The scope of work includes immediate repair of one faulty water gate supplying water to the irrigation area, servicing of another functioning gate, desilting of 20 to 30 secondary drains within the scheme, and assessment of Anka, Bukkuyum and NATO dams for possible rectification.
Speaking to journalists at the rehabilitation site, the management of the scheme and the leadership of the water users associations expressed deep appreciation to Senator Yari for the timely intervention.
According to them, farmers who were sighted on their respective farmlands, were very happy over the intervention.
Beyond the repairs, the intervention also includes empowerment of the Water Users Associations with fertilizer, tractors, mini-tractors, power tillers, combine harvesters, and semi and motorized transplanters, with a solid arrangement for maintenance and judicious use.
Senator Yari has also promised to follow up with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation on a permanent solution to the dam’s siltation.
When completed, the rehabilitation is expected to restore full water flow to thousands of hectares of farmland and boost rice production, returning Bakolori to its status as the food basket of Zamfara State.
The Project Manager of the Bakolori Irrigation Scheme, Alhaji Umar Adamu, described the intervention as timely and life-saving, saying its impact cannot be quantified.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Bakolori Water Users Association, Alhaji Yakubu Abubakar Marafa, described the intervention as a rescue initiative for farmers.
“We have over 80,000 registered and unregistered members under the Bakalori Water Users Association,” he said.
According to him, Yari Abubakar has proven to be a representative who always listens to his people and is ever ready to confront the challenges affecting their well-being.
“We would join hands with thousands of members of his association to support Senator Yari in delivering his mandate as Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council,” he assured.