Abuja: The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and resilience of Nigeria’s dams, describing them as strategic infrastructure essential for national development. The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, made this known on Thursday at the opening of a two-day workshop on dam safety in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the workshop is part of the stakeholder engagement activities under the Sustainable Power and Irrigation for Nigeria (SPIN) Project, which is supported by the World Bank. Mr. Pheelangwah, represented by Mr. Moses Jo-Madugu, Director of Reforms Coordination in the ministry, emphasized the government’s resolve to strengthen dam infrastructure to support irrigation, potable water supply, hydropower, and flood management. He highlighted that while dams are critical national assets, they also pose significant risks if not properly managed. The workshop aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, technical learning, and collaboration among key actors in dam operations nationwide.
In his remarks, Dr. Martins Eduvie, Acting Director-General of the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI), Kaduna, called for stronger institutional mechanisms to safeguard Nigeria’s more than 420 registered dams. Eduvie pointed out the critical functions these dams serve, such as water supply, irrigation, flood control, and energy generation, but noted that their management is sometimes underplayed. He referenced a recent incident in Mokwa, Niger, as a cautionary example of the consequences of inadequate infrastructure oversight.
Mr. Ali Dallah, Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations in the ministry, stressed that the safety of Nigeria’s dams should not be taken lightly, considering their vital role in food production, water access, electricity, and flood control. The ministry is working on finalizing a National Dam Safety Management Framework and reviewing technical guidelines to align with international best practices.
The workshop featured technical sessions on inspection protocols, emergency planning, safety assessments, and the use of digital tools for dam monitoring. Participants included engineers, hydrologists, disaster risk experts, state officials, and representatives of development agencies working in the water and energy sectors.
