President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved ₦95 billion for the rehabilitation of over 16 dams in Kano State, aiming to boost irrigation farming and support agricultural productivity.
The funding also covers the construction of the Eastern Bypass Road, which will improve connectivity between the southern region and Kano city.
Musa Illiyasu Kwankwaso, the newly appointed Executive Director of Finance at the Hadejia River Basin Development Authority, confirmed the development in a statement.
He announced that a technical committee has been inaugurated to assess the state of the dams, including key facilities like the Challawa Gorge Dam and Tiga Dam.
“Without mincing words, the inauguration of the technical committee to evaluate the Kano dams, including the Challawa Gorge Dam and Tiga Dam, among others, will enhance irrigation and improve agricultural productivity. This aligns with the efforts of the Hon. Minister Joseph Utsev to maximize these facilities in Kano.
“Similarly, the appropriation of ₦95 billion for the rehabilitation of dams in Kano, secured by Senator Kawu Sumaila from the southern part of the state, underscores the commendable efforts of Mr President.
“The kickoff of the North West Development Commission, driven by the support and insistence of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, will also bring prosperity to the region, demonstrating the administration’s dedication to the Kano people and the North West as a whole,” Kwankwaso said.
He praised the efforts of Senator Kawu Sumaila, who played a pivotal role in securing the funding, and acknowledged the unwavering support of Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin in driving the creation of the North West Development Commission.
Kwankwaso assured the President that his appointment has inspired a renewed focus on delivering the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He extended his gratitude to President Tinubu and key stakeholders, including APC National Chairman Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, and Hon. Abba Bichi, for their unwavering support.
“Our appointment at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority is an honor for the Kano people and members of the All Progressives Congress. It reflects the President’s positive vision for our state and the nation at large,” Kwankwaso stated.
He also highlighted the competence of the leadership team at the Authority, saying: “The caliber of individuals assembled, including Chairman Mamman Dau Aliyu, Managing Director Engineer Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, Tijjani Musa Isa, Hajiya Zainab Gamawa, Baffa Dandatti, and myself, ensures a formidable team dedicated to advancing the aspirations of President Bola Tinubu.”
Infrastructure Commitments
Kwankwaso further praised the administration’s broader infrastructure agenda, highlighting projects such as the Kano-Kaduna-Abuja expressway and the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline, slated for completion in 2025.
“The Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration’s determination to complete the Kano to Kaduna and Abuja expressway, along with the highly anticipated Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project, slated for completion in 2025, further underscores the President’s genuine commitment to Kano and the North,” he assured.