The dams, recommended by the Ministry of Water Resources,
are expected to generate additional 147.60 megawatts to the existing power
source.
The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, who
spoke in Abuja, said access to electricity is put at 40 per cent.
The minister, who was represented by the Director, Dams
and Reservoir Operations in the ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Adanu, said while
building dams in the past and recently for water supply and irrigation, the
ministry constituted small hydro power plants in the construction processes.
According to her, the ministry has partnered energy
sectors to conduct studies on the proposed dams and engineering designs of the
small hydro power schemes accompanying each of them.
She said this was to serve project activities and
generate electricity to rural communities, adding that the supply of water and
energy were important to achieving sustainable national development.
“In Nigeria, statistics have shown that only 40 per cent
of the people have access to electricity, 60 per cent of the population has
access to potable water, while access to sanitation is put at 41 per cent.
“As part of the integrated river basin development, the
ministry and some RBDAs, while building dams in the 1980s and recently for
water supply and irrigation, incorporated small hydro power plants to generate
electricity to serve the project activities and a host of rural communities.
“Based on the collaboration between the Water and Energy
sectors, the Federal Ministry of Power conducted feasibility studies and
engineering design of some of the small hydro power schemes mentioned above for
rehabilitation and concession, to boost electricity supply.
“No nation can develop without adequate supply of water
and energy. Demand for water will continue to increase over the coming decades.
The need for increased collaboration and cooperation between the agencies and
stakeholders in the water and energy sectors cannot be overemphasized
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