The Federal Government has assured the completion of the ongoing dam projects across the country to scale up irrigation farming and achieve food security.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, stated this in Ile-Ife, Osun State, during the second day of his tour of water projects in the South West region.
He explained that he led a team of Technical Directors from his ministry to assess the progress of the Ile-Ife Dam project in Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State to enable the government to take necessary actions by providing all that is required for its timely completion.
Prof. Utsev, in a statement on Friday by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Terhemen Oraduen, assured the people of Ile- Ife of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s commitment to making food available and affordable for all Nigerians, creating job opportunities for the teeming youth, and initiating people-oriented programs and policies aimed at improving the living conditions of citizens.
Earlier, the Director of Dams and Reservoirs in the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Ali Dallah, informed the Minister that the Ile-Ife Dam project, which is 45% complete and 660 meters long, has a storage capacity of 18 million cubic meters of water. This can be supplied to 250 hectares of land for irrigation farming and consumption, and it can generate 4.5 megawatts of electricity for the Ife community.
The Commissioner for Water Resources in Osun State, Mr. Sunday Olufemi, expressed appreciation to the Minister for leading his management team to the project site stating that it was a clear demonstration of government’s committed to the welfare of the people. He assured the Minister of necessary support to ensure the timely completion of the project to serve its intended purpose.
The community Head of Kajola Obalere, Mr.Adebayo Akinola, expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his determination to complete the project for the benefit of the people of Ile-Ife.
