GOMBE – The Minister of Water Resources Alhaji Suleiman Adamu, says he is dissatisfied with progress of work at the Dadin/Kowa Hydro-power project in Gombe.
Adamu stated this in an interview with the newsmen in Gombe on Tuesday after an inspection of the project sites.
“I am not too happy with the progress of work of the Hydro –power project in Dadin/ kowa because it has been going on for a long period and that was the reason I came to see things for myself.
“I invited the contractor to come and tell us when the project would be completed.
‘’We want him to give us a definite statement when the work would be completed and not to be giving us doubtful assurance all the time.”
According to him the power projects was awarded over 30 years ago and wss supposed to be completed since.
He said on the side of water project it was quite satisfactory with huge potential for irrigation.
According to him, the Federal government is working towards expanding the place, adding that studies had been completed and, in a short while, work would begin.
He said the irrigation sites covered 30,000 hectares of land
Speaking also, Managing Director Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority Malam Abubakar Mohammed said the dam was constructed in 1987, 31 years ago and remained idle.
“The dam was constructed in 1987, and now we are in 2018, the main set back of this dam was as a result of setback following the introduction of Structural Adjustment Programme in 1986 .
“The contract was awarded through for completing not only the dam itself but the irrigation and fisheries component.
“Fortunately enough the civil work was completed in 1987 and the River Basin ran out of funding.
“The power component was awarded to an Australian company, unfortunately after the introduction of structural adjustment programme there was no fund to complete it and the project was abandoned.”
He said the dam was capable of producing up to 20,000 metric tonnes of fish yearly when completed.
