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By Habibu Harisu
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to rehabilitate dams across Nigeria to prevent flooding and enhance irrigation.
Utsev gave this assurance on Monday during a visit to Shagari Dam in Sokoto with the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on Evaluation of Dams.
Represented by Mrs Oluwatosin Abiola, Deputy Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, he noted that many dams in Nigeria are aging and require maintenance and upgrades.
A technical sub-committee, led by the Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, has been established to assess the physical condition of dams nationwide and their impact on local communities.
The findings will be submitted for further action.
The minister explained that the inspections are meant to evaluate the safety and operational status of dams for flood control and economic use.
“Shagari Dam is safe, with no signs of deterioration in water reserve, embankments, spillways, and irrigable areas”.
He emphasised the need for increased investment in dam construction and maintenance to maximise their capacity for food production.
The Minister explained that President Bola Tinubu is committed to rehabilitating existing dams and building new ones for flood control and irrigation to ensure food security, pledging full efforts to achieve this goal.
Managing Director of Sokoto Rima Basin Development Authority (SRBDA), Mr Muhammad Bature, expressed appreciation to the President for the initiative.
“Shagari Dam has a 15 million cubic meter capacity, stands 13 meters high, and spans 1,340 meters in length, with 240 hectares currently under irrigation”.
He added that 1,000 hectares have been proposed for irrigation, with 70 per cent of the project completed.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team’s evaluation will provide critical insights into Nigeria’s dam infrastructure, guiding future policies on flood control and water resource management. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Muhammad Lawal
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