14 November 2013, Bauchi – Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo has assured stakeholders on the construction of the proposed Kafin Zaki dam by the federal government.
Speaking at the project site in Bauchi state, Sambo said the move would break the jinx of over three decades which successive administrations in the state had tried to surmount.
“In line with Mr. President transformation agenda, he has directed me to proceed with ensuring that this project is implemented for the benefit of the people of the North-eastern region of this country”, the Vice President told tumultuous villagers that received him at the proposed dam site.
Under the proposed design review, according to a source from the Bauchi Water Resources Ministry, the dam project would ensure the development of at least 125,000 hectares of irrigable land, out of which 80,000 hectares would be in Bauchi, 25,000 hectares in Yobe, 15,000 hectares, and 5,000 hectares in Borno states.
The proposed Kafin Zaki dam project coming under the Jama’are -Yobe basin, would when realized also generate 15 megawatts of hydro-electric power and 45 megawatts from bio-fuels, as well as the development of 100,000 tonnes of fisheries annually.
Sambo, flanked by his host, Governor Isa Yuguda, predecessor Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu and the Emir of Ningi, Yunusa Mohammed Danyaya, said the federal government under the Jonathan transformation agenda is irrevocably committed to the realisation of the dam project.
The Vice President explained that the federal government is reviewing in totality the project design for other cascading dams along the Kafin Zaki dam project such as in Yobe and other states, to ensure that all segments of the society along the river benefit from the programme.
He said, “Each of the segments of people will have an intensive irrigation scheme and immediately the designs are completed and the project review is ready, we will invite a stakeholders meeting for the final Memorandum of Understanding to proceed with the development of the project to ensure that the people of Bauchi, Yobe and Borno, and other states benefitted from this project”.
Sambo, who expressed dismay that the project has been going on for decades, however assured listeners that the Kafin Zaki dam, when constructed, would immensely benefit people in the North-east geo-political zone of the country, stressing that the federal government was fully aware of the various issues obtained along the project line.
– This Day
