Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has called on the Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority to prioritise the revival of the Kafin Zaki Dam project, describing it as critical to agricultural and livestock transformation in the region.
The governor made the call on Wednesday while receiving the Authority’s Managing Director, Engr. Rabi’u Suleman Bichi, and his delegation during a courtesy visit to the Government House, Bauchi.
Governor Mohammed said the long-awaited Kafin Zaki Dam, once completed, would serve as a strategic agricultural infrastructure that could unlock the economic potential of Bauchi and neighbouring states.
He stressed that full implementation of the dam project would create thousands of jobs, improve food security, and expand irrigation activities across the state.
“This dam is not just a reservoir of water, it is a reservoir of opportunity — for youth employment, commercial agriculture, and regional development,” he stated.
The governor also called for greater collaboration between the Authority and the state government to eliminate the obstacles delaying the project’s realisation. He emphasised the importance of fairness in the distribution of federal projects across the Authority’s coverage states, noting that equity would promote regional integration, harmony, and shared prosperity.
“Developmental justice across all benefiting states is key to ensuring unity and peace. No state should feel marginalised,” he added.
Mohammed reiterated the state’s commitment to working with the federal agency on initiatives aimed at advancing irrigation, empowering youths, and managing water resources sustainably.
In his response, Engr. Bichi revealed that the Federal Government had committed over ₦90 billion to water-related projects across benefiting communities, including irrigation schemes and youth development programmes.
He praised the Bauchi State Government for aligning with national efforts to achieve food security through robust agricultural interventions.
“We appreciate Bauchi’s proactive posture towards food systems reform. The synergy between state and federal governments is what we need to deliver lasting impact,” Bichi said.
The Kafin Zaki Dam project, originally conceived to support large-scale irrigation and hydropower generation, has remained stalled for decades due to political and environmental concerns.
With renewed commitment from both federal and state stakeholders, hopes are high for its eventual take-off.
