By Oscarline Onwuemenyi

The Federal Government has assured the people of Taraba State and its neighbours that the Kashimbila multi-purpose dam in the state would be completed on schedule.

The Minister of State for Power, Mr. Darius Dickson Ishaku, who gave the assurance when the Governor of Taraba State, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, visited his office in Abuja, said the N60.63billion project would not be abandoned, as Federal government realises the economic potential of the 40 mega watt capacity hydro power.

The minister said the government is committed to the improvement of lives of the citizens through the provision of regular supply of electricity to all Nigerians for both domestic and commercial purposes.

Ishaku further explained that the recent tariff adjustment is to encourage investors in the power sector and to make electricity supply sustainable for economic growth, and implored the governor to sensitise his subjects on the reforms in the sector which are for the good of the citizens.

The   multi-purpose dam when completed will provide electricity, pipe-borne water for domestic and economic purposes, tourism, fishery, and irrigation to the people of Takum, Kashimbila and Gamovo on River Kastina-Ala areas of Taraba State.

It will be recalled that the contract for the Kashimbila multi-purpose dam was awarded in May 2007, at an initial sum of N42.93billion but was reviewed upwards to N60.63billion due to the upgrading of the hydro power component from 6MW to 40MW by the Federal Executive Council. The dam is scheduled to be commissioned for production in April 2014.