In its efforts to maximise opportunities such as potable water supply, agriculture, power, tourism, aviation, transport as well as trade & investment in the Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam for the benefit of the host communities and the country at large, the federal government is set to commission the Dam next month.

The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe made the disclosure in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State recently. Mrs. Ochekpe was accompanied by the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke as well as Minister of State for Power, Muhammed Wakil.

The minister during the inspection of the Dam also stated that all the important sectors of the economy in the country would visit Kashimbila to assess the contributions they can make towards maximising the potentials available in the project.

Speaking on the 40 megawatts hydro power plant, the Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo averred that the Federal Government has approved the contract for the evacuation of the 40 megawatts of electricity.

On tourism, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Edem Duke, inferred that the project team had already developed a master plan to integrate tourism into the project, adding that the numbers of facilities on ground are enough to start the tourism element at the site.

The Publicity Department of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources in the monthly report of activities of the Ministry for December 2014, published on Wednesday January 7, 2015 noted that during the period under review, the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) held its 60th Council of Ministers Meeting in Niamey, Republic of Niger.

Nigeria’s representative at the meeting, Director of Planning Research and Statistics of the Ministry Wakil Adamu, who represented the Minister of Water Resources, commended the Nigerian government’s efforts at reviving the Lake Chad Basin.

The report further stated that Nigeria is the only country among member states that had paid off its 2014 contributions and all outstanding arrears.

According to the report, the Executive Secretary of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, Sanusi Imran Abdullahi in his speech at the meeting hinted that the gathering was part of preparations to implement the Five Year Investment Plan (FYIP) of the Lake Chad Basin Commission.

According to the Publicity Department, the Nigerian government flagged off the National Water Supply and Sanitation Data Survey to enhance the performance tracking system for the Water Supply and Sanitation sub-sector.