Balanga Dam to provide job opportunities -stakeholders
Stakeholders from Balanga Local Government on Saturday, met to discuss modalities and prospects of the renewed action on the development of Balanga Dam for full blown activities for the benefit of the people.
The stakeholders met at the Bala Waja’s palace in Talasse, to discuss intensively on the benefits derivable when the Dam is fully put to use.
The Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau, who was part of the meeting pointed out the need for involvement of private sector driven economy in the provision of employment and sustainable development.
The Deputy Governor said, “the private sector is the best employer of labour and not the government, therefore people must be willing and ready to invest as well as to support investors for employment to be available for the teeming youths in the state and the country.”
He noted that the government of Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya understands this secret hence, working round the clock to woo investors to the state to boost employment, commerce and overall upliftment of the living standard of the people.
The Deputy Governor explained that hitherto, the moribund Manto Processing Company has been handed to investors, and the 1000 hectares of Land earmarked for industrial estate etc are all geared towards boosting industrial activities for more employment and enhanced revenue generation in the state.
He called on the stakeholders of Balanga to support the Governor Inuwa Yahaya initiative on Balanga Dam for the benefit of the local government and the entire state.
In his remarks, Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, noted that his being part of the meeting was to show the extent of commitment of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in the drive towards resuscitating of Balanga Dam, as a means of revenue generation, and boosting of economic activities.
Njodi said Balanga Local Government had been backward in terms of commercial activities and Balanga Dam which should have boosted it’s activities laid waste since construction.
He pointed out that the administration of Governor Inuwa is committed to activating the Dam for agricultural and processing purposes towards overall economic development for the benefit of the people.
In a communique read at the meeting the SSG, said, the Forum noted with appreciation the renewed effort of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya in the development of the entire state and Balanga LGA in particular.
He added that, the forum welcomed the Investors to Balanga Dam with a view to energizing the dam for development but noted with dismay the growing rate of unemployment among youths in Gombe State and Balanga Local Government in particular.
According to the Secretary to the State Government, the Forum appreciated the effort of the Governor in providing sustained employment and development for the youths, and supports the investors coming into the state but stressed the need for more awareness campaign.
Other issues raised by the Forum include; expressing concern as to what happens to land owners with a view to winning their confidence, and the need for an all inclusive management structure where the host communities are fully involved as well as need for community based social responsibility interventions.
In his remarks, the Member Representing Balanga North in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Musa Buba highlighted benefits of the development to include boosting commercial activities and enhance general revenue generation, employment opportunities and increase in overall living standard of the people.
He however, advised that people should not allow sentiments becloud their reasoning, assuring that as representatives of the people they would never allow and impose on the people anything detrimental to their well being.
On his part, Commissioner of Water Resources, Alh. Ahmed Mijinyawa said the meeting was to discuss matters concerning activation of Balanga Dam through involvement of investors with a view to providing awareness amongst the people in the area.
He lamented that the Dam has laid waste since it’s construction and that the government is involving the stakeholders and the affected communities in the process of putting it to full use for the benefit of the people.
The Representative of the Investors, Broadlink Nigeria Ltd, Mohammed Sarki Ali, said they intend to construct primary and secondary canals for adequate irrigation purposes and to provide processing machines for the items to be produced in the area.
He said before they commence the activities the affected communities would be sensitized and a Memorandum of Understanding entered into, for their involvement to be clearly spelt out to avoid frictions.
He said an assessment would be carried out to identify the best crops to be produced and the people would be contacted to indicate what they would have the investors provide for them as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The Bala Waja Alh. Mohammed Danjuma Mohammed appreciated the concern of the Governor for the people of Balanga by coming up with the plan to activate the Dam and it’s activities.
He said he has no doubt that the Governor would pursue this idea to the latter, since he constructed the Talasse-Putoki road which were not part of his campaign promises, what more of the Dam he had promised to activate.
Jack Tasha
Senior Special Assistant ( SSA) Media and Publicity
(Deputy Governor’s Office)
