FG Boosts Farmers Productivity with Dadin Kowa Multi-Purpose Dam

From Ameh Ochojila, Abuja 

The Federal Government on Friday commissioned the Dadin Kowa Multipurpose Dam at Dadin Kowa Village, Yalmatu Deba Local Government Area of Gombe State to enhance productivity of farmers in the area. 

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr Suleiman H Adamu , while carrying out the exercise stated that, the Power Project is an integral component of Dadin-kowa    Multi-purpose Dam which was commissioned in 1988 with a Reservoir storage capacity of 2.8 Billion Cubic Metres with the goal of providing 6,608 hectares irrigation development, 40 Megawatts Electricity Supply and 30,000 cubic metres daily for water supply.

Adamu said in an effort to  utilize the full potential of the Dadin Kowa Dam in support of the cardinal agenda of this Administration in the area of hydro power generation for socio- economic development, the Ministry has  signed a concession agreement in  4th July 2005 to design, construct, install, operate and maintain hydropower generating components of 40 Megawatts"

The minister explained that the power station comprises of 2 x 20 MW hydropower , Turbine Generators , 2x17.5/25MVA , 11KV/132KV Switchyard, 2x400KVA Station Transformers, 132Kv Switching Station  and 6.5km Turn-in and Turn-out Transmission Station.

He further stated that, the potential socio-economic impact of the hydro power will have tremendous multiplying impact on the people of Gombe State and its environs while calling on the State to support the incremental Power Policy of the current administration with other impact of the Project such as the industrialisation, promotion of medium and large scale industries as well as employment generation for the Youths in the State.

Engr Adamu also noted that the Federal Government's intervention in the water sector in Gombe State is not limited to Dadin-kowa Multi-purpose Dam project but additional projects either  executed or have been implemented in other parts of the State which include Gombe Regional water supply project (counterpart funding Federal Government 30% and Gombe state government 70%).

He added that Dukku Regional Water Supply Project Kwani/Gadam/Bojule Regional Water Supply Project ; the drilling and Installation of Hand Pump and Solar Borehole for Rural Water Supply and sanitation projects across the State and Dadin kowa irrigation scheme under Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority which is among the transforming irrigation management projects in the country, a  project  funded by the World Bank in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

 Earlier the MD ,Upper Benue River Basin Authority,Engr Muaazu, stated that ,as a result of the commitment of the Adamu, an Inter-Ministerial Committee was established, including the BOT contractor, to study and review the agreement from 2015 to 2016.

In a statement on Sunday by Eyilaere Okonkwo, for the ministry said the revised Concession agreement he said, made it possible for both parties to successfully execute the implementation of the 40MW power plant, which was completed, tested, and certified by relevant regulatory agencies in December 2020.

He observed that the concessionaire obtained a power purchasing agreement (PPA) with the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET), stressing that the reservoir capacity of the Dam is 2.8 billion cubic meters, with a live storage of 1.7 billion cubic meters among others 

Engr Muaazu said the major components and functions of the Dam consist of irrigation of approximately 30,000     

 hectares downstream of the reservoir in two phases between Gombe, Borno, and Adamawa States, as well as domestic water supply to Gombe State capital and environs, fisheries (local and mechanized). Flood control, eco-tourism, and restoration of bio-diversity upstream and downstream of the reservoir are other components and functions of the Dam respectively.