“Complete Kashimbila Dam To Solve Nigeria’s Power Woes”, Sultan Tells Federal Government
“We need that dam ready at 100 per cent. If that project had been completed and was already generating power, many of the challenges we are having with power would have been a thing of the past”, Sultan of Sokoto Muhammad Sa’ ad Abubakar made this declaration in Jalingo.
Speaking penultimate Wednesday at the inaugural Taravest Summit in Jalingo, the state capital, the Sultan lamented that “it has taken successive governments years to address it, but now we must concentrate on completing the whole project. Let it generate power not just for Taraba, but for the entire North-East and the country at large,” he said.
He was particularly concerned over the slow pace of work on the Kashimbila Dam and stressed the need for immediate and total completion.
The Sultan who was speaking as guest of honour at the Taravest Economic Summit, with the theme: “Unlocking Taraba’s Investment Potentials – Advancing Agriculture, Energy, Mining and Industrialisation (AEMI) for Sustainable Growth and Development,” brought together top government officials, private sector leaders, and investors to explore Taraba’s rich resources and development opportunities.
The Kashimbila Dam, officially known as the Kashimbila Hydroelectric Power Station, is located on the Katsina-Ala River in Taraba State.
It was designed to serve multiple purposes, including flood control, electricity generation, water supply, irrigation, and regional economic, and one of the dam’s primary objectives is to mitigate the risk of flooding from the potential collapse of Lake Nyos in Cameroon. The project features a 40 MW hydroelectric power station intended to supply electricity to southern Taraba and the national grid.
He praised Governor Agbu Kefas for his commitment to improving security and creating an enabling environment for investment.
The monarch also noted that Taraba has become more secure and attractive to investors due to the governor’s pragmatic leadership.
The Sultan added that traditional rulers are solidly behind the administration and its development goals, noting, “We are here as moral and spiritual leaders to give you the support you need. You can hide under us; we assure you of our backing.”
There exists lots of untapped potentials in the North. Unfortunately, the insecurity challenge isa big hindrance to development. That has to be addressed too.