The construction of Zobe Dam near Dutsin-Ma in Katsina state
began in 1972 and was commissioned in July 1983 by the defunct second republic
administration then President Shehu Shagari. The dam was
a Federal Urban Water Project. It has however been abandoned soon after
it was commissioned.
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| ABDULKADIR SAFANA |
The water supply project was planned to be
completed in 1995, but the US $122,000,000 project was abandoned due to non-funding.
In September 1999 heavy rains caused the Zobe Dam to overflow,
resulting in heavy crop losses. The flood washed away millet, groundnuts,
guinea corn and beans. The farmers, who were inadequately compensated when the
dam site was acquired, were destitute with the rainy season nearing its end and
their corps destroyed.
In January 2003, the water treatment plant 2.5 km from the
reservoir was half completed but had been abandoned. Booster stations and water
tanks were in various stages of completion along the route to the city. The
only pipe that had been laid of 111 kilometers required was the 2.1 kilometer
stretch from the reservoir to the treatment plant. The water supply project needed N13
billion to be completed. President OlusegunObasanjo approved the
funding, and the next month paid a visit to the dam.
Later in August, a director of Katsina State Water Board at that
time, said, lack of focus and direction were the main obstacles to completion
of Zobe Dam. He said that Zobe, one of the largest bodies of water in Nigeria with
huge irrigation potential, was lying wasted.
Also, farmers were demanding release of water from the dam.
The water supply project was intended to deliver 65,000 cubic meters
of potable water to Katsina metropolis daily.
Later in August, governor Umaru Musa Yar'Adua said the state government had
allocated N317 million in funding for a 16-kilometer supply of water from Zobe
Dam to Dutsinma town, due to be completed in September that year. He also
warned of increased water tariffs in the state, since current rates were not
enough to cover costs. Later in December 2004, Katsina Central
Senator Umaru Tsauri said that the federal government had
allocated N1 billion for completion of the project.
In June 2009 the Katsina State government
announced plans to set up a hydropower station at the unused dam to boost power
supplies to the area and support mineral processing at the site. Engineer
Musa Nashuni said the first step would be to investigate producing insulators
for the electrification works, and after that the government would look into
establishing plant to generate power for irrigation, water generation and local
industries.
However,
December 2009 the Minister of Information and Communications, Dora Akunyili,
discussed revised estimates for the Zobe Water Supply project. She said council
had approved the revised consultancy fee from N123 million to N299 million. Later in March 2010 the Katsina State
Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Nasiru Danmusa, said Zobe Dam and
others would soon be completed in due course. That
month, the Federal government set up a Projects Assessment Committee to probe
incomplete projects where the contractors had received large payments but the
work was incomplete, including the Zobe dam project.
Recently in june 2016, the federal government has earmarked about
N600 million in the 2016 budget to boost water supply and irrigation farming at
zobe Dam in katsina State.
Hon. Danlami Mohammed Kurfi, a member of House of
Representatives from Dutsin-ma/Kurfi Federal Consistency, stated this during an
interview with newsmen to mark the All Progressives Congress’ (APC) one year in
office in Katsina.
Danlami said contract for the supply of water from the Zobe Dam
to communities of Dutsin-ma and Kurfi would soon be awarded.
The lawmaker said about N300 million out of the amount had been
set aside for irrigation at the dam to boost food production.
Kurfi said that the dam would be used for irrigation farming to
generate income for unemployed youth from his constituency.
He said the Federal Government would also established two power
sub-stations in Dutsin-ma and Kurfi Local Government Areas to boost electricity
supply to the two areas.
Up till now, the Dam could not be able to
pump a single cup of water for consumption to the host community and other neighboring
states.
We hope the current administration will work hard and complete
the long way project.
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