Director-General, Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency, Malam Ismail Umaru-Dikko, said bandits enclave in the state will pave way for dam.
He made the declaration in Kaduna on Thursday.
Dikko spoke at a business exposition marking the beginning of the 7th edition of the annual Kaduna Investment Summit (KADInvest 7.0).
He said the dam would address security challenges in the state and also put a permanent end to flooding in Kaduna metropolis.
Umaru-Dikko told potential investors at the exposition that the dam would become very handy in government’s plan to further promote dry season farming.
“From Buruku to Birnin-Gwari where we have been experiencing armed robbery since time immemorial.
“It worsened to cattle rustling and now kidnapping and banditry.
“We have very massive land that has never been used there and that is why we cannot fold our arms and allow criminals to continue to take advantage of the blessed land,’’ he said.
He noted that the land size is about two states, combined, in some parts of the country and said Kaduna State is like a drainage channel for water coming from Bauchi and passing through to Shiroro Dam.
“We believe the dam will also create jobs and encourage most youths rushing to study Business Administration and Accounting in tertiary institutions to take to agriculture,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the Kaduna Capital Territory Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture at the exposition.
The MoU is for the establishment of a film village within the Kaduna International Trade Fair complex, which the Administrator, Malam Hafis Bayero, said was slightly underutilised.
He said the duo would not build new structures, but would convert part of the existing facility to serve the purpose.
“What we need to do in Kaduna State to have a steady supply of technical hands in all aspects of film production.
“We will be setting up a Film Academy that trains people in advanced film production technology and take advantage of the state’s good landscape,’’ he said.
He said the state’s Capital Heritage project was also aimed at building a repository to archive the state’s rich history for exhibition.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Phebe Yayi, Administrator, Kafanchan Metropolitan Authority said the municipality has vast opportunities in agriculture
She called on investors to invest in agricultural value chains in the area which she said is also good for the cultivation of ginger, maize, yam, rubber, sorghum, apples and grapes.
She added that Kaduna State contributes 50 per cent of ginger production in Nigeria while highlighting other opportunities in rubber plantation.
Yayi said rubber is currently being cultivated on five hectares of land in the area and that the municipal authority intended to take it to between 50 hectares and 100 hectares.
She said nickel could also be found in Jema’a Local Government Area of the state for the production of wires, nails and ceramics.
