FG moves to end decades-long water crisis in Plateau LG

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated plans to construct a multipurpose dam in Gile community, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State. This project aims to resolve a water scarcity crisis that residents say has persisted for over a century, alongside infrastructural neglect. The proposed dam is designed to deliver potable water, support irrigation and livestock, and generate electricity, while also improving access roads and other essential infrastructure.

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This is more than water. This is life. It is agriculture, livestock production, a source of livelihood, job creation and wealth for this community.

During an inspection visit to the proposed site, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, was accompanied by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the Plateau State Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Bashir Lawandi Datti. Yilwatda described the dam as a "transformational intervention" that would significantly boost the economic prospects of Gile and surrounding areas. He emphasized that the project extends beyond water provision, representing "life, agriculture, livestock production, a source of livelihood, job creation and wealth."

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This is exactly what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing by taking development to rural communities.

According to Yilwatda, the dam's benefits will reach neighboring communities through a comprehensive water reticulation network. He linked the project to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment to developing rural areas. "When water comes, roads will come. Electricity will come. People working here will require schools and healthcare facilities. This is not just a water project; it is rural development," he added, underscoring the project's broader impact.

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When water comes, roads will come. Electricity will come. People working here will require schools and healthcare facilities. This is not just a water project; it is rural development.

Minister Utsev reiterated the Federal Government's dedication to expanding water infrastructure nationwide to enhance food production, create employment, and ensure inclusive governance. He explained that the current visit was part of preliminary assessments before detailed engineering studies commence. "This is a site assessment. After this visit, technical teams and consultants will carry out detailed feasibility studies and designs to determine the size, cost and duration of the project before construction begins," Utsev stated. The dam is intended to serve multiple purposes, including irrigation, domestic water supply, livestock support, and hydropower generation.

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Water is life. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed us to boost food production, create jobs for our youths and women, and make governance more inclusive through strategic water infrastructure.