FG can’t shoulder dams development alone- Minister

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, has said that the financial requirements for the development of dams and associated structures are so enormous that the federal government alone can meet. The minister made the government position known at the opening of the National Conference of the Nigerian Committee on large Dams (NICOLD), which […]

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, has said that the financial requirements for the development of dams and associated structures are so enormous that the federal government alone can meet.

The minister made the government position known at the opening of the National Conference of the Nigerian Committee on large Dams (NICOLD), which ended in Abuja yesterday.

Daily Trust reports that NICOLD is the apex professional body saddled with the responsibility of standards in the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of large dams and associated civil engineering works in the country.

The minister said as a result of that, the ministry has been playing a pivoted role in synergizing the public and the private sector in the development of infrastructures.

He said the ministry had made progress in the brown and green field water sector infrastructure through Public Private Partnership (PPP). This, he said, has led to PPP models for concession of the 30MW Gurara hydropower plant in Kaduna State.

Others are 40MW Kashmbila hydropower plant in Taraba State, 360MW Gurara Phase II hydropower project in Niger State and the development of 460MW Kastina-Ala hydro project in Benue State.

Earlier, the President of NICOLD, Engineer J.B.O Adewumi, said the association, which is non-governmental, leads professionals in setting guidelines and standards to ensure that dams are built and operated safely, efficiently, economically and environmentally sustainable.

Engr. Adewumi said the present leadership of the association had among other things completed spreadsheet for world register of large dams, provide technical assistance to the federal ministry of water resources, inspecting dams as well as conduct technical tour of Zungeru dam late last year.

He advised dam owners and operators across the country to make good use of the association by inviting it to undertake inspection of their dams.