FG completes Galma Dam, targets 1.1m jobs

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman H. Adamu, has
said that the completed Galma multipurpose dam in Soba LGA of
Kaduna State was capable of providing job opportunities for over
1.1 million people living within its environs.

The building of the dam started in 2006 and it has reached 100
percent completion.

Adamu, who inspected the project Thursday, said that apart from
the irrigation component of the project, the multipurpose dam with
a reservoir capacity of about 186 million cubic metre of water,
could also generate 2.2 megawatt of electricity and supply water to
2.2 million people in the surrounding communities up to the
ancient city of Zaria.

He commended the level of job done on the project and charged
the company to facilitate the construction of the roads for easy
access.

The minister had earlier commissioned the National Secretariat of
the National Water Resources Capacity Building in Kaduna.
At the event, he noted that the institute has played a significant
role, especially in the collaborative research and capacity building
in the sector.

"I am aware of the gait achievements of the institute since its
establishment, I therefore want to challenge the Executive Director
and students of the institution to redouble their efforts in achieving
its set goals in line with the agenda of the present administration,"
he said.

Adamu promised the ministry’s support and as well encourage the
institute in delivering on its mandate and ensure that its reputation
is sustained.

The centre was built in collaboration with the World Bank to
address some specific needs of the sector.

The Executive Director of the Institute,  Dr. Emmanuel Adanu, said
that the Institute has the mandate, to among others, promote and
develop training courses, perform applied research, promote
necessary codes of practice and cooperation with similar bodies
within and outside the country as well as international bodies.

Continuing, Adanu said that the institute has enjoyed a
tremendous support of the Minister of Water Resources since his
assumption of duty. He added that in the current financial year, the
budgetary allocation to the institute has tremendously increased,
while patronage of its tailor-made short courses by the ministry
and its departments has taken positive turn.

He appealed to the minister to encourage the ministry,
departments, RBDAs as well as its agency to participate on the
short and long term training programme of the institute and to
expand and regularize the youth empowerment programmes.

Culled-daily trust