The Ministry of Water Resources is to create a master plan to develop a tourism potential of the Gurara Dam with the aim of building a full fledged tourist resort with international standards which is intended to be private sector driven.
The Minister, Alhaji Suleiman Adamu disclosed this at the sixth edition of the Kaduna investment Summit, KADINVEST 6:0 in Kaduna State.
He mentioned that, the Ministry in collaboration with the have constructed 30 megawatts Gurara Hydro Power station in 2020, and also awaiting completion of the Mando-Kudenden transmission line by the TCN which would later be fully operated, providing additional power to the Kudenden industrial area.
According to him, ”the development of the ATC Dam is also on course and there are about six companies who have indicated interest to build the dam along with the 40 megawatts Hydro power station on build, operate and transfer basis.”
”Kaduna Government is to finance the water supply and irrigation components of the dam project based on the MoU executed between the State and the Ministry,” Adamu said.
He further disclosed that, ”they are presently implementing the Shiroro water supply programme which is aimed at expanding and providing Hundred percent water access to rural Communities in four selected Local Government Areas within the State.”
“The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has been and will continue to be a willing partner in supporting the efforts being made by the state to improve the economic well-being of the people,’‘ he promised.
Adamu therefore congratulated the people and government of Kaduna State for the visible infrastructural strides achieved under the leadership of Governor Nasiru El-Rufai.
Governor, Nasiru El-Rufai said, the state has this year, moved to the fourth position Nationwide in terms of Internally Generated Revenue from number 14 as his administration recorded about N2.7b.
On various achievements and investment recorded, Governor El-Rufai said; ”the state has signed an MoU with the NNPC for effective Gas supply especially to all communities within the state.
“Arla is also to build a ranch that will settle one thousand Fulani herdsmen…The ranch will have all the facilities found in any modern town and the objective is to convince the Fulanis that they could grow better economically without having to move around as herders.”
The Ranch project according to the Governor, is a collaboration between Arla, the CBN and Kaduna State government, which he promised would help in curbing issues attributed to Open grazing.
“Our government is passionate about women and children, hence the improvement in the Health Sector to reduce Maternal and Child mortality and also the provision of soft loans for Women, to improve on their economic well-being”.
“Over 6,000 women have been empowered through the Bank of Industry in collaboration with the State Government,” he emphasised.
Governor El-Rufai added that the Kaduna State is investing in the various sectors of the economy which includes, Agriculture, Power supply, Health,Eeducation, Mining and Quarry and Transportation with the aim of improving on the lives of Kaduna residents.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
