Farmers seek El-Kanemi’s intervention over Kafin Zaki dam

Leaders of Pepper Producers Association (PPA), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and that of Fadama Farmers Association (FFA) who led hundreds of their members to the El-Kanemi’s palace said the stopping the project became imperative in view of the negative consequence that might befall them if the project was  executed. The state President FFA […]

Leaders of Pepper Producers Association (PPA), All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) and that of Fadama Farmers Association (FFA) who led hundreds of their members to the El-Kanemi’s palace said the stopping the project became imperative in view of the negative consequence that might befall them if the project was  executed.

The state President FFA Alhaji Kyari Gambo told the monarch that the construction of the dam within the shore of Yobe/Komadugu River downstream was tantamount to the free flow movement of the water traversing some areas of Bauchi, Yobe, Borno, Jigawa and Plateau States.     

He explained that the project would undermine socio-economic activities of 15 million communities of Abadam Local Government and those of the Yobe/Komadugu River downstream who relied on farming, fishing and rearing of animals as their sources of livelihood.

“Construction of the dam based on financial backing by Bauchi State government and Dangote Group, whose principle interest is to process sugarcane plantations at cheaper rate, is aimed maximization of profit and consolidating of private ownership rather than consideration of human development”, the chairman alleged.  

Alhaji Gambo observed that the project was also capable of creating serious impediments which might result in immediate or long term repercussion on the government and many people with regards to micro/macro level development, attainment of self reliance, food security and environmental protection against desertification.   

“The perception of the communities on the dam project was entirely by fault rather than a designed policy as it undermined the conventional laws of provisions of National Water Resources Bill, 2007, Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the six governors of  the riparian states of Hadejia/Jama’are and Yobe/Komadugu River Basin,” the chairman further said.