The Federal Government on Wednesday said that it is considering to rehabilitate existing dams and construct new ones to boost irrigation farming and Hydropower generation in the country.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Professor Joseph Utsev sated this when he led the Permanent Secretary of his Ministry, Mr Richard Pheelangwah and some Technical Directors on assessment tour of Azere- Jere Irrigation Project and Gurara Multipurpose Dam in Kaduna State.
NewsQuest reports that Nigeria’s dream to build more dams is aimed at boosting farming primarily through enhanced irrigation systems, a step that would enable year-round agricultural production rather than relying solely on seasonal rains.
Investigations revealed that the country has about 264 dams that, which if properly serviced and managed, can significantly increase food production and allow crops to be cultivated and harvested multiple times a year.
In a statement by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity Terhemen Oraduen, Professor Utsev said that part of the mandate given to his ministry by President Bola Tinubu was to boost food production in the country through irrigated agriculture and improve hydropower generation as well as create jobs for the teaming youths .
According to Professor Utsev, it was to achieve the mandate that they were at Azare -Jere Irrigation Project and Gurara Dam to carry out an assessment of facilitaties on ground, look at their current status and identify possible challenges for immediate action.
Professor Utsev said several Multipurpose dams have been recommended for rehabilitation and construction of more ones including the ones along Sokoto-Badagry Coastal road to scale up irrigation farming and generate more Hydropower to the national grid.
On his part,the Facility Manager, Azere-Jere Irrigation Project and Gurara Multipurpose Dam Engr Gazali Tukur Mohammed said though insecurity has remained the major challenge affecting the smooth operation of the facilities, they have been committed to delivering on their mandate of supplying water to Kaduna and the FCT.
The Gurara Multipurpose Dam and Azare-Jere Irrigation Project were developed by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and some components were concessioned to Grams and Abel for management and maintenance through Public Private Partnership arrangement.
