By: Monday Munkaila, Gombe
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph T. Utsev, alongside his Minister of State, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, led a team from the Ministry to conduct an inspection of the Dadin Kowa Dam in Gombe state where they confirmed that the dam is fully operational contrary to recent reports in some sections of the media suggesting that the facility had collapsed due to flooding.
During the visit on Wednesday, the Minister expressed disappointment at the misinformation being spread about the plant’s status, reassuring the public that the facility remains intact and continues to provide uninterrupted power as well as water for irrigation and other purposes.
According to him, “We are here today to assess the status of the dam, and I want to tell Nigerians that the dam is stable. Those who reported the collapse merely observed the water flowing from the spillway. We want to assure Nigerians that the dam’s reservoir is functioning normally.”
“There is no cause for alarm. All measures are in place to ensure the continued safety and stability of this dam. It is in a normal state and will continue to generate power and provide water for irrigation as usual”, Minister Utsev stated.
The Minister emphasized the critical role of the media in shaping public opinion and urged journalists to exercise greater diligence in their reporting, stressing the importance of verifying all information before it is disseminated to the public.
The Ministers and other members of the delegation were later led by the Gombe State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Alh. Nasiru Mohammed, to the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park which is located a short distance to the Dadin Kowa Hydro Power Plant.
The park, which is set to become a major hub for manufacturing and industrial activities in the North-East, has seen significant progress, with several companies already beginning to establish their operations.
Impressed by the remarkable developments at the Industrial Park, the Ministers commended Governor Inuwa Yahaya for his visionary leadership and foresight in establishing this legacy project, recognizing its vast potential to attract multibillion-naira investments, generate substantial employment opportunities, and significantly boost the economic prosperity of the state.
The Ministers emphasized that such initiatives are crucial in driving sustainable development and positioning the state as a key hub for industrial growth especially in the North-east sub region.
The Commissioner of Environment, Water, and Forest Resources, Sa’idu Mohammed Fawu, who led the Federal Government’s team to the Dadin Kowa Dam, reaffirmed Gombe State’s commitment to collaborating closely with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation in ensuring the safety, stability, and functionality of all water infrastructure across the state.
According to Fawu, the state government is dedicated to maintaining and enhancing these critical resources to support sustainable development and meet the water needs of the population for domestic use as well as other purposes such as irrigation.
Earlier speaking, the Acting Managing Director of the Upper Benue River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Caleb T. Tyowuah, said the dam has the capacity of providing water for irrigation to 5,000 hectares of farmlands, stating that his agency is collaborating with the Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria (TRIMING) project to ensure the facility remains stable as it contributes to the socioeconomic development of Nigeria.
