FG seeks partnership with UNIDO to boost hydro power generation

The Federal Government has sought for partnership with UNIDO on the development of small dams to boost hydro power generation.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta, at a meeting with a UNIDO delegation on Wednesday in Abuja, stated that with the potentials of over 254 small dams in the country, Nigeria through the partnership can boost power generation.

Mrs. Jimeta also called for the transfer of the Regional Centre of Small Hydro Project to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to ensure its effectiveness and sustainability.

She added that, “The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has the mandate for hydro power development in Nigeria because the ministry is the custodian of all the small dams in Nigeria.”

The Permanent Secretary further called for the transfer of the AMOKE SHP project to the ministry which has been abandoned since 2010 despite the provision of 1.2 megawatts turbine equipment by UNIDO and the Japanese government.

She hinted that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be signed between the ministry and UNIDO for future cooperation on small hydro projects development programmes in the country.

The Project Manager, UNIDO headquarters, Mr. Jossy Thomas, said that the purpose of the meeting was to look at other areas of possible collaboration and also to scale up its activities in small hydro power projects.

“Our intention is not just to provide power to people of the various communities where our projects are sited, but to also turn the communities to the economic hub of the nation,” he said.