The Federal Executive Council (FEC) yesterday approved N46.15 billion for the augmentation of the Kashibilla dam project.
Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, who briefed State House Correspondents after the weekly FEC meeting presided over by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, explained that the project, which was started in 2007, has reached an advanced stage of 90 per cent.
The dam, which would supply 60,000 cubic metres of water daily to over 400,000 people, also has other components such as hydro power plant, which would generate 40 megawatts on completion, irrigation with net 2,000Ha, 11 km access road to dam, air strip which is already in use as well as great potential for tourism.
Kashimbilla Dam is located between the towns of Kashimbila and Gamovo River Katsina-ala in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Government has said that the Dam on completion would check the threat of flood from the structurally weak volcanic Lake Nyos along the Cameroon line volcanic activity. The Federal Government has ordered health workers to intensify screening of passengers coming into the country as part of deliberate efforts to check possible spread of Ebola virus.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of FEC meeting which was presided over by acting President Yemi Osinbajo. Adewole stated that the acting president had directed relevant government agencies to intensify surveillance to avoid a recurrence.
The minister said: “We are aware of the outbreak of Ebola in DRC in the last couple of days.
There are implications for this because one single case can trigger a public health alert.
“The Acting President directed that we should step up activities at the border points and I did visit the port health services at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to confirm that surveillance activities are ongoing.”
The minister announced that the ministry had already inaugurated an Ebola Preparedness Working Group.
