The Minister for Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe said that the N5.6 billion Mangu regional dam in Plateau State would supply 10 communities with water and create over 12,000

It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council last week approved N5.6 billion for the re-award of work on the dam which was abandoned 12 years ago.

The dam project was first awarded to Transproject Company Ltd, in 2002, by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

The Minister for Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe said that the N5.6 billion Mangu regional dam in Plateau State would supply 10 communities with water and create over 12,000

It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council last week approved N5.6 billion for the re-award of work on the dam which was abandoned 12 years ago.

The dam project was first awarded to Transproject Company Ltd, in 2002, by the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration.

Ochekpe, who visited the site on Monday, said the dam would also generate hydro electricity to be added into the national grid.

She maintained that the Mangu dam would also provide sufficient water for irrigation farming on 3000 hectares of land.

The Minister added that, among major communities expected to benefit from the dam, whose water volume would be 17.5 million cubic meters, are Mangu, Panyam and Mangu-Halle.

She further explained that the dam would generate employment during construction and after its completion, and advised the surrounding communities to make the utmost use of the opportunity to better their lots.

”During the execution of the project, the ministry and the contractor will ensure that people in the immediate communities would receive special attention in employment. She stressed.

”The communities will also get similar special consideration when we engage the more than 12,000 people that will work in the dam at its completion. Ochekpe assured.

Ochekpe said that the irrigation aspect of the dam would take-off as soon as the work on the project reached 50 percent completion.

According to the minister, the dam will be completed within the 36 months earmarked for it as there is no reason for the contractor to default.

”The ministry did its homework well and eventually awarded the job to Infiouest Limited because we are confident that this firm will perform.

”We have also taken care of funding and have assured the handlers that there shall be no delays from our part just as we do not expect any hitch from them”.

In his remarks, the Plateau State Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Mallam Idi Waziri said the re-award of the contract to a competent contractor was a thing of joy for both the people of Mangu and the State in general.

Waziri said more than one million people were expected to benefit from the dam when completed, and revealed that the Plateau Government had already constructed the water treatment plant to treat the water from the dam.

count | 77

N5.6 Billion Mangu Dam to create up to 12,000 new Jobs – Sarah Ochekpe