Abuja, August 3, 2026 — The Federal Government has announced plans to construct a new dam in Limpye, Ampang East District of Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, as part of efforts to boost water supply, irrigation, and power generation in the North-Central region.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, disclosed this during an assessment visit to the proposed dam site, accompanied by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Engr. Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, and other technical experts.
Utsev also assured that the ongoing Mangu Dam project in Pankshin Local Government Area, which has reached 90 per cent completion, would soon be completed and commissioned.
He explained that the Limpye Dam project would commence after the completion of feasibility studies, detailed engineering designs, and approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC). According to him, the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to assess dams nationwide for rehabilitation and development.
The minister noted that the proposed dam would provide clean, safe, and sustainable water to communities in Kanke and surrounding areas, enhance irrigation farming, create employment opportunities for women and youths, and increase hydropower generation for the national grid.
He added that the Mangu Dam, upon completion, would support irrigation, potable water supply, and electricity generation.
Utsev further disclosed that dams being constructed along the Sokoto–Badagry Superhighway corridor are aimed at improving domestic water supply, promoting all-season agriculture, reducing farmer-herder conflicts, and boosting electricity generation.
On the Alau Dam in Borno State, the minister said rehabilitation works were ongoing, while several other dam projects across the country were at advanced stages of completion.
He commended President Tinubu for his continued support for the water and sanitation sector and reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to delivering critical infrastructure nationwide.
Speaking during the visit, APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the proposed Kanke Dam would significantly improve water access, electricity supply, road connectivity, and economic opportunities in the area.
He noted that the project’s reticulation would extend beyond Kanke to surrounding communities, including Limpye and Lantan, providing potable water to areas previously without pipe-borne supply.
“The reticulation is not for Kanke alone. It will extend from Limpye to Lantan and back into the Local Government Area, providing potable water to communities that have never had access to pipe-borne water,” he said.
Also speaking, the Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations, Engr. Ali Ibrahim Dallah, described the visit as a pre-feasibility assessment to determine the suitability of the proposed site, adding that further technical studies and designs would follow.
The Plateau State Commissioner for Water Resources and Energy, Hon. Bashir Lawanndi Datti, commended the Federal Government for the initiative, describing it as a critical intervention that would improve the livelihoods of the people of the state.
READ ALSO: NEMA Coordinates Reception of 37 Nigerians Repatriated from Türkiye in Abuja
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Golong Ngas, Chief Jika Golit, to seek the support of the traditional institution for the successful implementation of the project.
The high point of the visit was the decoration of the minister with the traditional regalia of the Ngas people of Pankshin Local Government Area and Dungung District of Kanke Local Government Area.
About The Author
