Yahaya Idris, Lafia
Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has visited the Farin Ruwa waterfalls in Masenge village and Farin Ruwa dam in Kwarra, all in Wamba Local Government Area, to take stock, as well as appraise prospects for the state.
The Governor was taken round the two sites by a team, including the Gom Mama, HRH Mustapha Bala, council officials and led by the state Commissioner of Information and Culture, Mr. Danladi Dogo Shammah on Saturday.
Engineer Sule who noted that he has always shown interest in what is happening in the area, said he decided to pay the visit to Farin Ruwa to get first hand information on projects in the area, as well as study the prospects available to the state.
At the Farin Ruwa falls, the Governor inspected the abandoned hotel project started by the administration of former governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, where the lamented the vandalization of the buildings.
“It’s an amazing site and for some of us who had the opportunity to visit others like Niagra Falls and places like that, this is also very interesting. It will be something that every Nigerian should be interested in visiting,” Engineer Sule said.
He however pointed out that before the area is turned into a tourist attraction, the state government must first carry out its feasibility properly.
“We have to be able to construct the roads, we have to provide the infrastructures, we have to ensure that apart of the road, there is water here for drinking, there is opportunity for maybe accommodation and then sites for people to rest.
“These are the reasons why I decided to come, to see, instead of just waiting in Lafia for people to be feeding me with information. I wanted to see things for myself and I am glad that God gave me the opportunity to come,” the Governor stated.
He disclosed that his administration is considering providing road networks in the area, to ease transportation of people and goods, as well as attract investors in the areas of agriculture and minerals exploitation.
Engineer Sule however said it’s not part of the agenda of his administration to renovate the abandoned hotel project in Masenge village.
At the site of the ongoing dam construction by the Federal Ministry for Water Resources, Engineer Sule said he was there to view the prospect for irrigation agriculture.
He added that he was also there to inspect equipment purchased by the state government meant for hydro power generation, with a view to assessing the level of vandalization, as well as salvaging what remained.
“We have taken a look and we have seen that the vandalization is actually massive, I don’t think we will be able to salvage much.
“But we will do the best we can. It’s Nasarawa State assets and Nasarawa State investment, so we have to do the best we can because we are holding assets of Nasarawa State in trust. We have to ensure that we salvage enough and we are able to save enough for the people of Nasarawa State,” he said.
The Governor said he will also study the prospect for another hydro power company.
“In this case, hopefully not by Nasarawa State government again but maybe by other investors or some PPP arrangement or something, where the state is not exposed to this kind of level of exposure without having the way of paying back,” Engineer Sule said
