The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Irrigation projects

  • Buhari approves N6.5 billion for irrigation projects

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has approved N6.5 billion for some irrigation projects, Minister of Water Resources Suleiman Adamu has said.

    The minister said the N6.5 billion was part of a N13 billion counterpart funding needed to implement the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria Project (TRIMING).

    He said the World Bank was ready to invest $495 million as a credit facility for the TRIMING project.

    Adamu stated this yesterday while reeling out his three years scorecard as a minister and also to celebrate Nigeria Media Water Week in Abuja.

    He said the Buhari administration initiated the National Irrigation Development Programme to aid diversification of the economy, guarantee food security and create employment.

    The minister added that the administration’s effort on irrigation would enable it deliver 42,000 hectares of irrigated farmland in 2018 and 41,000Ha in 2019.

    He said the target is to achieve 500,000Ha irrigated farmland by 2030 under the project.

    The minister said: “To aid diversification of our economy, guarantee food security and create employment, we have initiated the National Irrigation Development Programme which is aimed to establish additional 100,000Ha of irrigated farmland by 2020 and another 500,000Ha by 2030.

    “We also plan for additional 1,000,000Ha of irrigable land to be developed by the private sector and state governments within the same period. Our current effort will enable us to deliver 42,000Ha in 2018 and 41,000Ha in 2019.

    “The World Bank is supporting the implementation of TRIMING with a credit facility of $495 million. The project involves rehabilitation, expansion of about 42,000Ha of irrigation land under the first phase to be completed by 2022.

    “The counterpart funding required for TRIMING is in the region of N13 billion and President Muhammadu Buhari has graciously approved 50 per cent of that counterpart funding.

    “We expect the project to proceed at the speed of light.”

     

     

    The minister said on assumption of office in 2015, he undertook a technical audit and review of projects in the water sector and discovered that there were 116 abandoned and uncompleted water projects left behind by past administrations.

    The minister said this enabled his ministry to prioritise the 116 uncompleted and abandoned projects.

    He added that the ministry, under his watch, only added two new projects – which he did not name, to the ones he met on ground.

    The minister also said his ministry under its National Water Resources Masterplan and Roadmap identified that Nigeria had hydropower potential of 12,220 megawatts.

    He said only 1,930MW of this potential has been developed at Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams.

    “We are currently making progress for the concessioning of 30MW Gurara Hydropower plant, which is planned to come into full operations soon. We are also progressing on our collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to concession the 40MW Kashimbila hydropower plant, recently completed.

    “We are in advanced discussions with potential investors for other hydropower projects, including Gurara II (350MW), Lokoja (750MW) and Makurdi (1,000MW), among others,” the minister added.

     

     

     

  • FEC okays N25 billion for road, irrigation projects

    FEC okays N25 billion for road, irrigation projects

    •Releases $1 m for contraceptives since 2016

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N25 billion for repairs of Hadejia-Nguru road, linking Jigawa and Yobe states and the completion of Gari irrigation projects to serve Kano and Jigawa states.

    Water Resources Minister Suleiman Adamu and the Minister of State for Power, Works & Housing counterpart, Mustapha Shehuri, made the disclosure yesterday at the end of the weekly FEC meeting.

    Adamu said that FEC approved N14.5 billion for the completion of Gari irrigation projects meant to serve Kano and Jigawa states, which according to him, had been abandoned since 2000 after it was over 50 per cent completed.

    The project, he explained, was one of the 116 abandoned projects inherited by the ministry and among the top priority projects of the government because of its capacity to serve 2,000 hectares.

    Shehuri said that the Council also approved N10.5 billion for the repair of Hadejia-Nguru road linking Jigawa and Yobe states.

    He said the 30-kilometre road project had been awarded to a civil engineering company, Mothercat.

    Also speaking, the Minister of Heath, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said that the Federal Government had released $1 million for the delivery of contraceptives for the enhancement of quality family planning among Nigerians since 2016.

    According to him, procurement for the implementation of the plan led by a committee chaired by a director in the ministry had equally been secured.

    He said that the ministry had submitted nine proposals which had been approved by the Council since 2016.

    According to him, following a presidential approval of the joint venture agreement between the federal government and May & Baker for the production of local vaccines, a board had been constituted on January 19 to oversee the venture and consequently, Nigeria will begin to produce its vaccines within the next two years.

     

     

     

  • FG to complete 21 dams, irrigation projects by 2019

    FG to complete 21 dams, irrigation projects by 2019

    The federal government has expressed determination to complete seven ongoing water supply and 21 dams as well as irrigation projects between 2018 and 2019.

    It said it is also in advanced discussions with potential investors for the Gurara II, Lokoja and Dasin hausa hydropower projects, which when completed, will produce a combined 1,250MW electricity to the national grid.

    Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu made these disclosures in Abuja while presenting the two years score card of his ministry.

    Adamu explained: “We have concluded a Technical Audit and prioritised the hitherto uncompleted or abandoned 116 major projects that I met in the Ministry.

    “We are deploying most of our resources towards completing and commissioning all the high and medium priority projects from 2016 – 2019.

    “It is in this regard that we have completed and commissioned Central Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project in Bayelsa State.

    “Shagari and Barikin Ladi irrigation projects will be completed in early 2018. Our plan is to complete 7 other ongoing water supply projects and 21 dam and irrigation projects between 2018 and 2019.”

    He went on: “We are currently making progress for the concessioning of the 30MW Gurara Hydropower plant which is planned to come into full operation by mid 2018.

    “We are also progressing on our collaboration with FMWPH to concession the 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower Plant recently completed.

    “In addition, we are in advanced discussions with potential investors for other hydropower projects including Gurara II (350MW), Lokoja (750MW) and Basin Hausa (150MW).”

  • FG to complete 21 other dams, irrigation projects by 2019

    FG to complete 21 other dams, irrigation projects by 2019

    Apart from the Gurara hydropower plant, Kashimbila hydropower plant, Gurara II, Lokoja and Dasin hausa, which has either been completed, about to be completed or in talks with potential investors.

    The Federal Government is poised to complete seven other ongoing water supply projects and twenty one dams and irrigation projects between 2018 and 2019.

    FG is also in advanced discussions with potential investors for the Gurara II, Lokoja and Dasin hausa hydropower projects, which when completed will produce a combined 1,250MW electricity to the national grid.

    Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu made this disclosure in Abuja, while presenting the two years score card of his ministry.

    He added that at his resumption of office, his ministry agreed to prioritize the 116 uncompleted or abandoned major projects he had met and deploy resources towards completing and commissioning all high and medium priority projects from 2016 to 2019.

    His words .” We have concluded a Technical Audit and prioritized. the hitherto uncompleted or abandoned 116 major projects that I met in the Ministry. We are deploying most of our resources towards completing and commissioning all the high and medium priority projects from 2016 – 2019. It is in this regard that we have completed and commissioned Central Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project in Bayelsa State. It is also my pleasure to inform this gathering that the following projects have also been completed and are ready for commissioning:

    “Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, Edo State We have concluded a Technical Audit and prioritized. the hitherto uncompleted or abandoned 116 major projects that I met in the Ministry. We are deploying most of our resources towards completing and commissioning all the high and medium priority projects from 2016 – 2019. It is in this regard that we have completed and commissioned Central Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project in Bayelsa State. It is also my pleasure to inform this gathering that the following projects have also been completed and are ready for commissioning:

    “Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, Edo State rehabilitation of Ojirami Dam Water Supply Project, Edo State. Kashimbiia Dam, Taraba State. Ogwashi-Uku Dam, Delta State.

    “Two (2) other projects: Shagari and Barikin Ladi Irrigation Projects will be completed in early 2018. Our plan is to complete 7 other ongoing Water Supply Projects and 21 Dam and Irrigation Projects between 2018 and 2019, including the following: Water Supply Projects, Inyishi Water Supply Project, Ekeremor Water Supply Project, Sabke/Dutsi/Mashi Water Supply Projects, Zobe Water Supply Project, Mangu Water Supply Project.

    “Dam & Irritation Projects. Middle Ogun Irrigation Project, Middle Rima Valley Irrigation Project, Gari Irrigation Project, Kontagora Auna Dam Project, Bagwai Irrigation Project,Tada Shonga Irrigation Project, Adani Rice Irrigation Project, Ekuku Dam Project, Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, Ile-Ife Dam Project, Zauro Polder Irrigation Project and Otukpo Multipurpose Dam Project.

    ” Our Roadmap identified Dams with Hydro Power potential for Development and we have been in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing (FMWPH) to that effect.

    “We are currently making progress for the concessioning of the 30MW Gurara Hydropower plant which is planned to come into full operation by mid 2018. We are also progressing on our collaboration with FMWPH to concession the 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower Plant recently completed. In addition, we are in advanced discussions with potential investors for other hydropower projects including Gurara II (350MW), Lokoja (750MW) and Basin Hausa (150MW).

    “With 1,800m3/Capita/year of available renewable water resources, Nigeria is not a water poor country. However, there are some regions that are water stressed. We are making effort to proffer We have concluded a Technical Audit and prioritized. the hitherto uncompleted or abandoned 116 major projects that I met in the Ministry. We are deploying most of our resources towards completing and commissioning all the high and medium priority projects from 2016 – 2019. It is in this regard that we have completed and commissioned Central Ogbia Regional Water Supply Project in Bayelsa State. It is also my pleasure to inform this gathering that the following projects have also been completed and are ready for commissioning:

    a. Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply Project, Edo State

    Rehabilitation of Ojirami Dam Water Supply Project, Edo State. Kashimbiia Dam, Taraba State. Ogwashi-Uku Dam, Delta State.

    “Two (2) other projects: Shagari and Barikin Ladi Irrigation Projects will be completed in early 2018. Our plan is to complete 7 other ongoing Water Supply Projects and 21 Dam and Irrigation Projects between 2018 and 2019, including the following: Water Supply Projects, Inyishi Water Supply Project, Ekeremor Water Supply Project, Sabke/Dutsi/Mashi Water Supply Projects, Zobe Water Supply Project, Mangu Water Supply Project.

    “Dam & Irritation Projects. Middle Ogun Irrigation Project, Middle Rima Valley Irrigation Project, Gari Irrigation Project, Kontagora Auna Dam Project, Bagwai Irrigation Project,Tada Shonga Irrigation Project, Adani Rice Irrigation Project, Ekuku Dam Project, Lower Anambra Irrigation Project, Ile-Ife Dam Project, Zauro Polder Irrigation Project and Otukpo Multipurpose Dam Project

    “Our Roadmap identified Dams with Hydro Power potential for Development and we have been in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing (FMWPH) to that effect.

    “We are currently making progress for the concessioning of the 30MW Gurara Hydropower plant which is planned to come into full operation by mid 2018. We are also progressing on our collaboration with FMWPH to concession the 40MW Kashimbila Hydropower Plant recently completed. In addition, we are in advanced discussions with potential investors for other hydropower projects including Gurara II (350MW), Lokoja (750MW) and Basin Hausa (lSOMW).

    “With 1,800m3/Capita/year of available renewable water resources, Nigeria is not a water poor country. However, there are some regions that are water stressed. We are making effort to proffer solutions to the water stressed regions in Chad Basin and other related areas like the Komadugu-Yobe basin. Under the present Administration, the Lake Chad environmental challenges have been brought to the attention of the international community as the major cause of the security crisis in North-Eastern Nigeria.

    “The Ministry has also championed the signing of an MOU between the Lake Chad Basin Commission and a Chinese company, who are presently undertaking further feasibility study on the proposed Interbasin Water Transfer Project from the Congo River into the Lake Chad. Furthermore, in an effort to arrive at the best solution in saving the Lake Chad, an International Conference on the Lake is now scheduled to hold in Abuja from 26th -28tln February, 2018 in collaboration with LCBC and UNESCO.

    “In addition, the Ministry has completed the engineering design and is set to commence in 2018 the Hawal Inter-Basin Transfer from River Hawal to River Ngadda. Phase 1 of the project is to augment water supply to Alau Dam so as to provide more sustainable source of water supply to Maiduguri and environs. Phase 2 of the project aims to resuscitate the 60,000Ha South Chad Irrigation Scheme, which became moribund following continuous drying up of Lake Chad over the years.”