ABUJA (Water Resources Ministry Report) – The Nigerian Government in partnership with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the World Bank (WB) has reaffirmed its commitment to completing the rehabilitation of the Jebba and Kainji dams to improve the availability of power and boost economic activities in the country.
The Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Reng Ochekpe made this declaration lately while meeting with representatives of the team handling the project as well as the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the World Bank.
She recalled that in 2011, the Nigerian Government and the World Bank signed a contract agreement towards rehabilitating the Jebba and Kainji Dams and the power plant under the Niger Basin Water Resources Development and Sustainable Ecosystem Management Programme. “The Project is being coordinated by the Niger Basin Authority (NBA), facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources which is the national focal structure and implemented by the Transmission Company of Nigeria’s Project Implementation Unit,” the Minister said.
“I am excited by the fact that three of the turbines in the Kainji and Jebba system will be ready sometimes next year. This will go a long way in improving the availability of power to the country. You all know that power is one of the greatest challenges we have as a country.”
According to the Minister, the present government is committed to not only transforming the power sector, but ensuring that the country has stable power to support the economic development programme that have been initiated for the benefit of Nigerians and also ensure that economic activities create jobs for teeming youths. While assuring the World Bank and TCN teams on government’s support to the project, the Minister commended the World Bank, TCN and NBA for their support. “I want to assure you that we will continue to cooperate with you to see that in all those areas that you are supporting us, we do not let you down. We realize the value of the money you have committed and Nigeria will benefit from it,” she averred.
Earlier in his remarks, the Senior Natural Resources Management Specialist of the World Bank, Emmanuel Y. Nikiema on behalf of the World Bank, TCN and NBA said that significant progress has been made on the Jebba Project as well as the rehabilitation of the Spillway Channel and the Auxiliary Dam which was to be completed in February 2014.
He said that work on the Kainji rehabilitation is also progressing in line with the accelerated schedule of the contractor and the project is expected to be completed in April 2015.
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