The President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has approved funding for completing the Ogbese Multipurpose Dam abandoned 15 years ago in the Ise/Orun Local Government area of Ekiti State.
Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, revealed this on Friday when he visited the dam as part of his tour of abandoned water supply schemes in the southwest.
The Ogbese Multipurpose Dam, initiated in 2009, was designed to supply hydroelectric power and water for irrigation and domestic use to over 450,000 people in the area. The dam was expected to generate approximately four megawatts of hydroelectric power to be added to the national grid.
The dam will supply water and power to residents of Ogbese, Afolu, Ise Ekiti, Orun Ekiti, and Ikere in the Ekiti South Senatorial District.
The minister emphasized that President Tinubu is committed to completing all abandoned water supply projects across Nigeria and initiating new ones.
Mr. Utsev said, โOut of President Tinubuโs eight-point agenda, five are directly linked to the Ministry of Water Resources, including enhancing food security, ending poverty, creating jobs, stamping out corruption, and improving the environment and public health.โ
The Minister said the current administration had already completed three dams in the Kogi, Jigawa, and Benue states. He noted that numerous water supply schemes have also been commissioned across the country, with several irrigation projects underway to support food security and convert floodwaters for agricultural use.
Mr. Utsev said the installation of power components at the Ogbese Multipurpose Dam would commence soon, followed by the second phase, which involved irrigation and water supply.
He added that When completed the project would provide significant employment opportunities, particularly for women and the youth in Nigeria.
Ali Dallah, the Director of Dams and Irrigation at the ministry said approximately 70 percent of the work on the Ogbese Dam had been completed, expressing confidence that the necessary installation of power components would begin shortly.
Fahd Jammal, the project contractor, assured that his team would return to the site immediately upon the release of funds.
The project contractor said the delay was primarily due to funding issues and logistical challenges, such as the prolonged detention of essential equipment at the port in Lagos.
