Minister directs FCT water board to maintain pedan dam

THE Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Muhammad Bello, has directed the FCT Water Board to continually maintain the Pedan Dam in the highbrow area of Asokoro District, Abuja to ensure that raw water is made available all year round.

He gave this directive during an impromptu visit to the site.

Malam Bello said the continuous maintenance would improve the services the dam was rendering and elongate its lifespan.

The minister said that the Pedan dam had remained a very important asset of Abuja that must be protected as aquatic activities could also be improved around the city via that facility.

The Pendan dam was constructed by the FCT administration for flood and erosion control while the raw water in the Dam is used all year round for horticultural activities.

The dam usually supplies raw water for the watering of plants at the IBB Golf Course, Presidential Villa and the Abuja Plant Nursery as well as other horticultural activities in and around the Federal Capital City.

Taking the minister and his entourage round the dam, the FCT Director of Water Board, Mr. Hudu Bello, said the facility was constructed in line with the Abuja masterplan to arrest water flood and channel same for horticultural activities in the city, thereby preserving the treated water from the Lower Usuma Dam meant for human consumption.

He revealed that the dam had a total volume of 5.8 million cubic meter of water at peak period of rainy season, which was transferred periodically to the Plant Nursery, as well as IBB Golf Course and the Presidential Villa.