The Federal Government of Nigeria has commissioned the irrigation component of the Gurara multipurpose dam project at Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State.
Vice President Muhammad Namandi Sambo, who commissioned the project on Friday, said it was in line with the Federal Government’s Agricultural Transformation Agenda.
Sambo said: “The purpose of the project was to supplement the raw water supply to Lower Usuma Dam for FCT Water Supply, generate 30MW of hydropower to resuscitate the industrial sector of Kaduna and rural electrification of the surrounding communities and provide irrigation infrastructure in line with the Millennium Development Goal on Food Security and Poverty alleviation.”
He added that the hydropower generation would boost the industrial sector in Kaduna State in particular and Nigeria in general in the area of job opportunities, wealth creation, and poverty alleviation to mitigate restiveness in the country.
In her welcome address, the Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe, said the irrigation component of Gurara multi-purpose dam project covers about 6,000 hectares of irrigable land.
The minister said the project was a milestone achievement of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s administration in ensuring sustainable development of the nation through the empowerment of the people.
Ochekpe said: “The commissioning of the irrigation component today of the Gurara Multipurpose Dam Project would further strengthen and complement the efforts of our counterparts in the Ministry of Agriculture in the implementation of the Agriculture Transformation Agenda,”
The dam and its other components would further develop the region from intensive agriculture to modern industry, with expected seasonal production of 4,500 ton of rice,6,700 ton of maize, 11,000 ton of melon and 18,000 ton of fruits.
Ochekpe called on the community to view the project as belonging to them and to support its operation as this will offer gainful employment to the people and also empower them.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Governor of Kaduna State, Muhktar Ramalam Yero, thanked the Federal Government for choosing the state for the project.
Yero said the project will boost commercial activities of the community and the entire state.
“Though the Dam will augment the raw water supply to Lower Usuman Dam for water supply to FCT, the greatest beneficiary will be Kaduna as the economy will improve by bringing development to the state,” he explained.
Speaking on behalf of the host communities, Sarkin Adra Maiwada Galadima promised the host community’s maximum support to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Salini Construction Company.
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