FG approves N606m for GuraraUsuma dam contractors

The Federal Executive Council yesterday approved N606.31million for the contractors that had maintained the pipeline supplying water from Gurara Dam to Lower Usuma Dam for nine years.

Water Resources Minister Sulaiman Adamu, while addressing State House reporters after the council meeting, said another company is training Nigerian personnel maintaining the pipeline.

The minister said this was an attempt by the Federal Government to take over the project.

“So, we have been working since last year to take over this pipeline in particular because it is very strategic and it is meant to augment water supply during the dry season in Abuja. We believe after construction it doesn’t make sense for the project to remain in the hands of the contractor for another close to 10 years now without our taking possession and being responsible for the operation and maintenance of the pipeline.

“So, we presented a memo, we negotiated with the contractor to exit within the next 12 months so that the water ministry and the FCT can take over the responsibility for managing, operation and maintenance of the pipeline. Before then, we had negotiated through the office of the National Security Adviser, where in we have 24 hour surveillance of the pipeline because of the strategic importance of the pipeline to Abuja.

“The memo was approved and in the next 12 months we would have prepared our own personnel to take over the operation and maintenance of the scheme and for the contractor totally disengage from the project site after 10 years,” Adamu said.