The Honorable Minister of Water Resources Engr Suleiman H Adamu who was accompanied on project site inspection by the Executive Governor of Ekiti State Dr Kayode Fayemi has revealed that the Federal Government is making concerted effort to ensure the completion of Ogbese Multi-purpose Dam project located in Ogbese, Ekiti State, for the overall benefits of Ekiti people and their environs.
The Honorable Minister made this known at the Dam project site in Ogbese, Ekiti State, on Friday 11th February,2022, when he visited the site to ascertain the progress of on-going work.
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 also be beneficial to the people.
Engr Adamu also noted that the Dam was inherited from previous administration. The Honourable Minister informed that the contract was awarded in 2009, adding that the project would have been completed but activities on the Dam site were stalled by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Engr Adamu therefore charged the contractor to ensure that the equipments 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 H.Adamu to ensure the realization of the project.
Earlier, the Director of Dams, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Engr Ali I. 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 is presently awaiting clearance at Tin Can Island port, Lagos.
Present at the site inspection were the MD of Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority BORBDA, Eng Saliu O. Ahmed and his team, site engineers, and contractors.
