Nigeria partners Turkey on Dam construction

The Federal Government has expressed its willingness to partner with construction companies from Turkey to construct more dams and develop irrigation facilities in Nigeria.

The Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe made this known when she received a delegation from Turkey, led by the Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Hon. Mustapha Pulad.

Ochekpe said: “Let me say that we have more than 200 dams and in the area of irrigation we have been able to develop over 150,000 hectares of land, we still have more that are yet to be developed because the potentials we have for irrigation is over 3million hectares of land, so we are willing, if you are ready, to partner to expand what we have been doing in terms of construction of more dams, both for the purposes of water supply, hydropower generation and irrigation to boost our agriculture.

“We commend your advancement in the area of irrigation development and water infrastructure, we want to partner with you, and we want to learn from you. Nigeria is the largest country in Africa, the potential for business is enormous so we want to partner with people who are willing to assist us.”

Earlier, Pulad introduced the delegation members as representatives of various reputable construction companies in Turkey who wanted establish their companies in Nigeria.

Their areas of focus, according to the Ambassador, included dam construction, irrigation, railway station, energy among others.

He solicited for cooperation not only on economic front, but also in education and health, saying many Nigerians go to Turkey for studies.

“The presence of Turkish schools in Nigeria, Turkish University and Hospital in Abuja are symbols of our good relationship and cooperation,” he said.