To boost irrigation farming and hydropower generation, the Federal Government has announced plans to rehabilitate existing dams and construct new ones across the country.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, made this known during an assessment tour of the Azare-Jere Irrigation Project and the Gurara Multipurpose Dam in Kaduna State.
Professor Utsev said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Ministry to enhance food production through irrigated agriculture, improve power generation, and create more job opportunities for Nigerians.
The Minister explained that the visit was to assess the condition of the facilities and identify challenges that require immediate attention.
He added that new dams would also be constructed including along the Sokoto Badagry Highway to further support irrigation and increase power supply to the national grid.
Meanwhile, the Facility Manager of the Azare-Jere Irrigation Project and Gurara Dam, Mr. Gazali Tukur Mohammed, noted that insecurity remains a major challenge, but assured that efforts continue to ensure steady water supply to the Federal Capital Territory.
The projects are managed under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement between the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the firm Grams and Abel.
