Inter-ministerial Technical Committee On Evaluation Of Dams In Nigeria

Tosin Kolade
Nov, Tue, 2024

FG commits to dam rehabilitation for flood control, irrigation – Minister

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By Habibu Harisu

The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to rehabilitate dams across Nigeria to prevent flooding and enhance irrigation.

Utsev gave this assurance on Monday during a visit to Shagari Dam in Sokoto with the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on Evaluation of Dams.

Represented by Mrs Oluwatosin Abiola, Deputy Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, he noted that many dams in Nigeria are aging and require maintenance and upgrades.

A technical sub-committee, led by the Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, has been established to assess the physical condition of dams nationwide and their impact on local communities.

The findings will be submitted for further action.

The minister explained that the inspections are meant to evaluate the safety and operational status of dams for flood control and economic use.

“Shagari Dam is safe, with no signs of deterioration in water reserve, embankments, spillways, and irrigable areas”.

He emphasised the need for increased investment in dam construction and maintenance to maximise their capacity for food production.

The Minister explained that President Bola Tinubu is committed to rehabilitating existing dams and building new ones for flood control and irrigation to ensure food security, pledging full efforts to achieve this goal.

Managing Director of Sokoto Rima Basin Development Authority (SRBDA), Mr Muhammad Bature, expressed appreciation to the President for the initiative.

“Shagari Dam has a 15 million cubic meter capacity, stands 13 meters high, and spans 1,340 meters in length, with 240 hectares currently under irrigation”.

He added that 1,000 hectares have been proposed for irrigation, with 70 per cent of the project completed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team’s evaluation will provide critical insights into Nigeria’s dam infrastructure, guiding future policies on flood control and water resource management. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Muhammad Lawal

Folashade Adeniran
Nov, Sat, 2024

General News

Nigeria needs to construct more dams to control flooding- FG committee

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By Yetunde Fatungase

The Director of Dams and Reservoirs Operations in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Ali Dala, has called for the construction of more dams to mitigate flood risks.

Dala made the call when he led a team of the Inter-ministerial Technical Committee on Evaluation of Dams in Nigeria to the Oyan Dam in Abeokuta on Saturday.

Dala said the visit to various dams across the country is to access their conditions and evaluate their safety status for potential flood control.

While observing that many dams in Nigeria are aging and require maintenance and upgrades, Dala stressed the need for increased investment in dam construction and maintenance.

He also called for regular dredging of rivers to remove debris and improve their capacity to handle excess water.

“I have said it, and even the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation has mentioned it a number of times, that for us to control floods adequately in Nigeria, we need more dams.

“Nigeria currently lacks the necessary number of dams to effectively control flooding.

“Sediment builds up in reservoirs can reduce their storage capacity, hindering their ability to control floods.

“By increasing the number of dams and improving their maintenance, we can significantly reduce the impact of floods in Nigeria.

“Country like the US have at the moment 92,000 dams, China has about 98,000 dams while in Nigeria we have only 408 registered dams.

“So, I believe that by the time we also improve on the number of dams in the country, flooding would be a thing of the past or will be drastically reduced to the barest minimum,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team’s evaluation is expected to provide valuable insights into the current state of Nigeria’s dam infrastructure as well as help in informing future policy decisions related to flood control and water resource management. (NAN) (www.nannews.com)

Edited by Yakubu Uba