FG Approves $1.3bn Kano Dam Concession for Agriculture

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a $1.3 billion concession for the Kano dam, as conveyed in a letter from the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA) dated August 18, 2026, and signed by Faiza Sani Iliyasu. The concession will be managed by Al Qaryah Agro Allied Ltd, which plans to implement modern farming systems including cage aquaculture, aquaponics, hydroponics, and integrated rice fish farming.

The project aims to maximize the dam's underutilized water body and is expected to create at least 10,000 jobs while boosting food supply and lowering prices. Abubakar M.

Nagwamatse, CEO of Al Qaryah Agro Allied Ltd, emphasized the project's alignment with Nigeria's national food security goals and the Special Agro Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme. HJRBDA Managing Director Engr. Rabiu Suleiman Bichi welcomed the proposal, highlighting the importance of private sector participation in public-private partnerships to unlock the socio-economic potential of Northern Nigeria’s water infrastructure.