The coastal communities along Taraba, Adamawa, Benue and other river basins in Nigeria will breathe a sigh of relief as the federal government takes decisive measures to accelerate the construction of the Dasin Hausa dam.
This project that will have been a lot of time against the devastating floods caused by excess water released from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon.
The Dasin Hausa dam, which was originally planned in the 1980s to complement the Cameroon Lagdo dam, has remained stagnant for more than 40 years.
However, under the administration of President Bola Tinubu, efforts are now being made to accelerate its construction through a public-private association (PPP).
To promote this, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) convened a critical meeting with the key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Water Resources and the Mainstream Limited Energy Solutions.
The session was chaired by the general director of the ICRC, Dr. Jobson Ewalefoh.
Dr. Ewalefoh described the key objectives of the meeting: evaluate progress from the signature of Mou, review the commitments of both parties, address regulatory concerns and receive updates on the timeline and project implementation challenges.
He stressed that President Tinubu has accused his administration of finding innovative ways to attract private sector funds for critical infrastructure projects. This meeting, he said, was an important step to guarantee the rapid and successful execution of the dam.
He said that Nigeria and Cameroon originally agreed to build two complementary dams, one in Cameroon to release water (Lagdo Dam) and another in Nigeria to control the floods (dam Dasin Hausa).
Due to decades of delays, Nigeria has suffered repeated flood disasters, which leads to the loss of lives, the destruction of farmland and billions of Naira in damage. However, with the strong support of President Tinubu for the development of infrastructure and PPP, Dr. Ewalefoh expressed his confidence that all the processes that lead to the construction of the dam would now accelerate.
He expressed optimism that with the unwavering support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the development of infrastructure.
“When completed, the Dasin Housa multipurpose will mitigate the floods caused by the Lagdo dam in Cameroon, it will generate more than 300 megawatts of electricity and provide a source for irrigation agriculture for the states of Adamawa, Taraba and Benue, which cover more than 150,000 hectares of cultivation lands.
“The end of the Dasin Hausa dam is not just about stopping floods, it's about ensuring our future! Every year, we see impotent while the waters of the floods of the Lagdo de Cameroon dam destroy houses, farmland and livelihoods. With this dam, we can finally control the floods, protect the communities and save billions of Naira in damages. But that's not all: this project will generate more than 300MW of electricity, drives industries and create thousands of jobs!
“Imagine the transformation: irrigation of the round of the year for farmers, the production of abundant foods, the stable water supply and the improveable areas inside. This dam is the key to unlocking economic prosperity for Taraba and the whole country. We have delayed enough, and the cost of inaction has been devastating. It is time to build the Dasin Housa dam and change Nigeria's story forever, ”he said.
A study prior to feasibility has been completed, and interested parties have requested an extended study to address the areas that were initially not covered.
During the meeting, Eng. Zacheus Akinjogbin, head of the PPP Unit of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, assured those interested that the Ministry undertakes to take concrete measures to guarantee the completion of the project.
Eng. Lamu Audu, managing director of Mainstream Energy Solutions, also reaffirmed the company's commitment to collaborate with the federal government and mobilize funds and experience in the private sector to complete the project.
Audu mentioned that several international financials, donor agencies and the World Bank have already shown a strong interest in supporting the end of the dam.
The meeting concluded with the interested parties that agreed to establish clear deadlines to solve pending problems, ensuring that the project progresses quickly within the Ministry of Water Resources.
IFEANYI NWOKO, interim media and advertising chief, declared that with this renewed impulse, Nigeria is finally on the way to end the devastation caused by floods and unlock the substantial economic potential promised by Dasin Hausa dam.