By YANGE IKYAA
The Minister of Water Resources Engr Suleiman Adamu, has revealed that the Federal Government is making concerted efforts to ensure the completion of Ogbese Multi-purpose Dam project, located in Ogbese, Ekiti State.
Adamu, who was accompanied on project site inspection of the dam by the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi, also explained that the current push for the timely completion of the project are intended for the overall benefit of Ekiti people.
He was at the dam project site at the weekend to ascertain the progress of work on the on-going project.
Speaking on the significance of the multi-purpose dam, Engr Adamu pointed out that the dam has the capacity for water supply, irrigation and hydropower, adding that tourism and agricultural potentials of the dam will be also be beneficial to the people.
He also noted that the dam was inherited from previous administrations, as the contract was awarded in 2009.
The project, the minister explained, would have been completed but activities on the sam site were stalled by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Engr Adamu therefore charged the contractor to ensure that the equipment needed are transported to the dam site promptly, adding that local fabrication should also be encouraged in order to support job creation.
The Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in his remarks during the site inspection revealed that the Federal Government is trying to ensure that all inherited projects are completed.
He expressed optimism that the project will be completed soon, given the passion and commitment demonstrated by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, led by Engr Suleiman Adamu, to ensure the realization of the project.
The Director of Dams, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Engr Ali Dallah, informed that the dam has recorded a progress level of 67 percent from the completed spill way and grouting work, ongoing construction of dam embankment, intake, reservoir clearing and discharge channel excavation.
He further stated that the electro-mechanical equipment had been shipped into the country and are presently awaiting clearance at Tin Can Island Port in Lagos.
Present at the site inspection were the Managing Director of Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA), Eng Saliu O. Ahmed, and his team, site engineers, and contractors.
