To improve water supply, irrigation and hydro-power in Kaduna and its environs, the Federal Government and Kaduna State government have formally signed a multimillion-dollar Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the execution of Itisi Multi-purpose Dam project.

The Minister of Water Resources, Engr. Sulaiman Adamu, and the Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasiru El-Rufai, did a virtual signing of the MoU which was earlier designed in 2008 as a Hydro-Power Generation Dam, but now restructured to provide water supply and irrigation infrastructure of about 35,000 hectares as well as the generation of 40MW of power to Kaduna metropolis and environs.

Explaining that the ministry was re-strategising to ensure that proactive steps were taken towards the implementation of the revised project components and scope, Engr. Adamu added that the MoU was expected to strengthen partnerships with Kaduna State government in the implementation of large scale infrastructure water projects within the 2016-2030 roadmaps.

Governor El-Rufai, in his remarks, said the project would be completed after 2023, adding that the state was sourcing for about $400 million from the African Development Bank and the Islamic Development Bank to earmark adequate resources in fulfilling its obligations under the MoU.