….commissions dams, irrigation, sanitation projects

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – THE Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr Joseph Utsev, Friday, disclosed that the Ministry generated over ₦7 billion from the concessioning of the 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower Plant in January 2024.

This was made known by Utsev during his presentation of report on the progress made by the Ministry from 2023 to date at the the National Press Centre in Abuja, organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and Orientation.

He said the Ministry initially took a tour of ongoing projects and the ones abandoned, and after taking an inventory of the projects the Ministry swung into action in order to meet the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians.

He said: “There dams have been completed and commissioned: Rafin Yashin Multipurpose Dam, Niger State; Odo-Ape Hydropower Dam, Kogi State: and Amla Otukpo, Benue State.

“Under the Public Private Partnership arrangement: One (13) No. Hydropower Plant and a Cargo Agro-Allied Airport have been concessioned: 40MW Kashimbilla (Taraba State); and Kashimbilla Integrated Cargo/Agro-Allied Airport (Category B). Also, two dam and hydropower projects are at various stages of Public Private Partnership, PPP, concession: 460MW Katsina-Ala (Benue State); 20MW Farin Ruwa (Nasarawa State);

“These projects would provide additional power supply, aid movement of agricultural goods and promote development of cottage industries in the area.

“In January 2024, the sum of ₦7,121,521,142.00 was generated as commencement fee for the first five years into the Special Concession Account of the Federal Government as Revenue from the Concession of the 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower Plant.”

On irrigation projects completed, he said: “Four irrigation projects were completed:Bakalori Irrigation Project, Zamfara State; Rehabilitation of 9,490 hectares of gravity-fed systems were completed under TRIMING Project, to facilitate production of 100,000 metric tonnes of rice annually

“Dadin-Kowa Irrigation Project, Gombe State; Completion of 2,100 Hectares of irrigated farmland. The Projects have been completed and handed over to farmers for cultivation.

“Micro Irrigation Project at Igbogidigidi Ipapo, Oyo State; Micro Irrigation Project at Gari, Jigawa State. The two Micro Irrigation Systems cover five hectares each, comprising solar powered borehole, water distribution network, green house facilities.

“These projects are designed to promote all year-round farming for communities in Ipapo, Gari and environs.

Meanwhile, the Minister said there are ongoing dam and irrigation projects that would boost food security and energy supply.

“Alau Dam Reconstruction/Upgrade and Other DamsFEC has given approval for the reconstruction/upgrade of the Alau dam, to include irrigation and hydropower components, in addition to the original purpose of water supply.

“The reconstruction/upgrade of the Dam was flagged-off on Saturday, March 1, 2025. Efforts are ongoing to ascertain the condition of other dams nationwide for their safety and integrity.

“Study and design are ongoing for construction/rehabilitation of Dura dam (Benue State), Lafia dam (Nasarawa State), Ado Awaye dam (Oyo State) and Galmara dam (Bauchi State) while that of Datsin Hausa in Adamawa State is completed, awaiting construction.

“Dams at advanced Stages of Completion; 14 dams are at advanced stages of completion, including Mangu dam, Plateau (91%), Ogbese dam, Ekiti State (70%), Adada Dam, Enugu State (90%) etc; and Irrigation Projects Five Irrigation Projects are at several stages of completion, including Middle Rima Valley, Sokoto State (90%), Tada Shonga, Kwara State (85%), Middle Ogun, Oyo State, Lower Ogun, Ogun State, Chouchi, Adamawa State.Eight (8) other Drip/Micro Irrigation Projects at selected locations are ongoing.”

Meanwhile,on water supply across the country, he made it known that 113 contracts were awarded for the construction of water supply schemes in 2024, which are currently at various stages of construction.

Four Water Supply projects were flagged-off between December, 2024 – March, 2025, and are on-going, including: Greater Dutse Water Supply Project, Jigawa State; Rehabilitation and Upgrading of Buruku/Gboko Water Supply Project in Ameladu Headworks, Benue Ugbema Water Supply Project, Benue State Wannune Water Supply Project, Benue State.

Speaking on revitalize the River Basin Development Authorities, RBDAs, he said: “The Ministry is embarking on the following: Collaborating with private sector to re-equip the RBDAs to accelerate food production and rural development; Engaging State Governments to reclaim encroached RBDA farmlands by communities and individuals.

“Implementation of the Partial Commercialization programme is being vigorously pursued to attract private sector funding and make them commercially viable and self-reliant.”

However, according to the Minister on improving sanitation across the country, “The ‘Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet’ campaign has gained remarkable momentum, which led to additional 40 LGAs attaining Open Defecation Free, ODF, status, bringing the total of ODF LGAs to 142; Developed the ODF jingles as sensitization strategy in five languages namely, English, Pidgin, Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba, which are aired weekly on radio and television reaching over 25 million Nigerians across all the States including FCT; Launched the Revised Clean Nigeria Campaign Implementation Strategy towards an Open Defecation Free Nigeria (2025 – 2030); Constructed 159 Sanitation and Hygiene facilities in 23 States across the six Geo-Political Zones; andAwarded 38 Sanitation and Hygiene facilities in 15 States across the six Geo-Political Zones including the FCT.”

Looking ahead, the Minister said 11 projects hopefully would be completed and commissioned in 2025, as the Ministry also plans to roll out initiatives to improve sanitation facilities in schools, health centres, and public places; strengthen capacity of State and LGA WASH officials on demand creation and hygiene promotion approaches towards achieving ODF status; engage the Private Sector to leverage investment opportunities in ending open defecation in Nigeria under the Clean Nigeria Campaign in collaboration with UNICEF.