The Federal Government says the N95 billion Kano dam upgrade project aims to improve safety and management, boost agricultural production, and enhance food security in Nigeria.
In 2024, the government established an inter-ministerial committee to evaluate about 35 dams across Nigeria for safety and management improvements.
Mr. Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Enlightenment, stated this during a media inspection tour of the ongoing work at the Chalawa Goje Dam in Kano State’s Karaye Local Government Area.
He explained that the government awarded a N95 billion contract for the expansion and rehabilitation of Challawa Goje, Tiga, and Kafinciri Dams in Kano State under a special intervention project managed by the ecological field office.
Abdulaziz mentioned that once completed, these projects would strengthen food security nationwide.
He added that the initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of making Nigeria a food-secure nation and an exporter.
The presidential aide noted that work on the Challawa Goje Dam has reached about 40 percent completion.
“We are at Chalawa Gorge Dam in Kano State, one of three sites under the federal government’s special intervention project, supervised by the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA).
“The other two sites are the Kano Irrigation Project at Tiga Dam and Kafinciri Dam in Garko Local Government Area.
“Together, these projects will provide over 5,000 hectares of irrigable land. Work is progressing well at all sites, with nearly 40 percent completion at this site. Pavements have been cleared, and preparations are underway for canals that will pump water over 2.5 kilometers to benefit farmers,” he explained.
Abdulaziz emphasized that the projects support Tinubu’s agenda of making Nigeria a sustainable food producer, providing food for the people and exporting surplus.
He expressed confidence that the projects would soon benefit hundreds of thousands of farmers.
He highlighted that about 5,000 hectares of land would be developed, with each hectare cultivated by approximately 20 farmers.
“In terms of yields and produce, each hectare will contribute to our goal of food security and job creation for the unemployed and rural communities,” he said.
Musa Kwankwaso, Executive Director of HJRBDA, noted that the Challawa Goje Dam was constructed over 30 years ago.
He added that the dam was originally designed for irrigation, hydro-power generation, and water supply for industrial and domestic use.
Ibrahim Muhammad, the contract engineer, reported that about 30 percent of work has been completed at the irrigation site, with 240 hectares cleared and the main canal corridor’s subgrade finished.
Regarding hydro-power, Ado Doguwa, Managing Director of Kano Hydro & Energy Development Company, said the Chalawa 2/3 Megawatt hydro power plant is designed to generate 6 Megawatts of electricity.
He added that work is in an advanced stage and the plant is expected to be commissioned within two months.
The media team also inspected ongoing construction of the Sustainable and Emerging Technologies Institute (SETI) at Bayero University, Kano (BUK), which is being implemented by NASENI.
