By Abdullahi Lukman
The Federal Government outlined a plan to strengthen food security and energy supply by rehabilitating existing dams and constructing new ones across the country.
The initiative is also expected to create jobs, particularly for youth, by boosting irrigated agriculture and hydropower generation.
Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, made the announcement during a visit to the Azare-Jere Irrigation Project and Gurara Multipurpose Dam in Kaduna State, alongside the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, and senior technical directors.
Prof. Utsev said the assessment aimed to review the operational status of the facilities, identify challenges, and plan interventions.
He emphasized that the move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to enhance food production and expand hydropower contribution to the national grid.
The plan includes the rehabilitation of several multipurpose dams and the construction of new ones along strategic routes such as the Sokoto–Badagry Highway to expand irrigation coverage and energy output.
Engr. Gazali Tukur Mohammed, Facility Manager of the Azare-Jere and Gurara projects, acknowledged that insecurity poses challenges to operations but assured that the team remains committed to supplying water, particularly to the Federal Capital Territory.
The projects, developed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, include components managed under a Public-Private Partnership with Grams and Abel, responsible for operations and maintenance.
This approach frames the dam projects not only as infrastructure upgrades but as a strategic push for national food security, energy resilience, and youth employment.
