FG to Maximize Opportunities in Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam as it sets to Commission it in February, 2015

Federal Government would maximise opportunities such as potable Water Supply, Agriculture, Power, Tourism, Aviation, Transport as well as Trade and Investment in kashimbila multipurpose dam for the benefit of the host communities and the county in general.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Reng Ochekpe made this declaration over the weekend, when she alongside with her counterpart Ministers of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Tourism Culture and National Orientation Mr. Edem Duk and of State Power Hon. Muhammed Wakil, inspected the Kashimbila Multipurpose dam in Takum local Government, Taraba State.

The Minister said that all the important sectors of the economy in the country would come to kashimbila to see how they would contribute to maximise the use of the potentials available in the project.

Kashimbila dam is a buffer dam designed to accommodate the poisonous gas and water that may come to Nigeria in case of breakdown of Lake Nyos in Cameroon. As At present the dam has generated 40 Megawatts of Hydro Power, 2000 hectares land for of irrigation, Tourism potentials, aviation and transport potentials and would provide 60,000 cubic meters of water daily to 400,000 people.

In her remarks shortly after the inspection, Mrs. Ochekpe said that she was very happy with level of work done.

Her words “We are here at Kashimbila with three of my colleagues and we are happy with the level of work we see, as of 2010 the level of completion of this project was just 10 per cent but now you can see that it has taken political determination of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to see that the project is executed to final stage”

She said “the President himself had been driving this project and we are happy that today as we stand with you now the project is 95 per cent completed. We have already set in motion the process that would lead to the commissioning of the project early February, 2015, so we are happy with what we have seen”

“We want to maximize every opportunity that is available here, next time we would come with our colleague from Agriculture because of the irrigation component. Staple processing zone would be set up around this neighbourhood and this would not only open up the rural areas but would provide opportunity to further improvement on our agricultural activities in Nigeria”

Speaking on the 40 megawatts Hydro power, the Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said that Federal Government has approved the contract for erection of transmission line for the evacuation of the 40 megawatts of electricity.

He said “The transmission infrastructure that would be put in place here would strengthen the entire Taraba state as well to Benue and Plateau states so that we can have more reliable and stable electricity in this part of the country”

On tourism, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation Mr. Edem Duke said that the project team had already developed master plan to integrate tourism into the project, adding that number of facilities that were on ground are enough to start the tourism element in the site.

He said they are also working on how to get the local communities integrated in the tourism development of cultural industries where they would be doing craft and fabric that can be purchased by tourists that would be visiting the project

Musa Mato
For: DD Press FMWR