FG Constructs 44 KM access roads to Gurara multipurpose dam

The Federal Government has constructed 37.5 kilometres access road to Gurara multipurpose dam.  The road which started from Kateri along Abuja-Kaduna expressway terminated at the dam site.  Another 7 kilometres access road is under construction to connect Kenyi communities to the dam site.  The two roads are expected to be completed in March, 2014.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe announced this while inspecting the roads on Thursday, 6th February, 2014.  She said that the purpose of the   roads construction was to ease transportation system of the benefiting communities as well as the clients that would make use of Gurara multipurpose dam.

She said: “The reason for these roads is that the dam is multipurpose dam that has more than three million cubic metres of water, and it is a dam with irrigation facilities, with hydro power facilities, with water transfer to Lower Usuma dam, with fisheries and tourism potentials.  If all these facilities are to be put in to use, definitely we need additional infrastructure like roads.”

Ochekpe further said that the roads would serve the communities in the area, but also it will serve people that will come around to do business, especially those interested in commercial farming, tourism and other social activities at the dam site.

She said, Vice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo would inspect the projects and afterward, President Goodluck Jonathan would come and commission some of the facilities.

“We expect that you should deliver in March because I will come with the Vice President by the end of the month (February) to see all of these, after the Vice President inspects, then we will come with the President to commission most of these facilities that have been completed”, she said.

In his remarks, the project manager, SALINI Construction Company, Mr. Riccardo Lumbardo said that the 37 km road has about eleven culverts and is built with approved materials.  He assured the Minister that they would do their best to ensure that they complete the roads before the end of the March.