The Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has deployed a team of technical experts to Imo State for a comprehensive assessment of dam infrastructure.
The initiative aims to ensure the safety, functionality, and environmental impact of these dams.
According to The PUNCH, the Deputy Director and head of the technical Abiola Oluwatosin division in the ministry, briefed journalists in Owerri on Friday, highlighting the government’s commitment to advancing water resource infrastructure.
“We are in the South-East to evaluate the structural integrity of dams across Nigeria,” Oluwatosin explained. “The focus is not just on the dams’ conditions but also on the social and environmental impact they have on local and riparian communities.”
The technical subcommittee, established by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, has visited several key sites, including the Ivo and Adada dams in Enugu State and the Amauzari and Inyishi dams in Imo State.
Oluwatosin stated that the findings from the site assessments would feed into a “robust action plan” designed to address critical issues such as flooding, irrigation, and the development of hydropower for enhanced energy supply.
“The inter-ministerial technical committee will later consolidate all findings to provide technical guidance and recommendations,” she said.
The subcommittee, comprising officials from the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Surveyor General’s Office, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, among other experts, was commissioned to conduct a detailed analysis of the dams to ensure their structural soundness and long-term viability.
This nationwide evaluation aligns with the October inauguration of the Inter-ministerial Technical Committee on Dam Evaluation by President Bola Tinubu. Led by Minister Utsev, the committee includes high-ranking officials such as Wale Edun, Minister of Finance; Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information; Atiku Bagudu, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Dave Umahi, Minister of Works; National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu; and Musa Dangiwa, Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
The overarching goal, according to the ministry, is to ensure that Nigeria’s dam infrastructure remains safe, efficient, and beneficial to local communities and the broader ecosystem.
