The Dadin Kowa Dam is located in Yamaltu Deba local government area of Gombe State in the North east part of Nigeria. Dadin Kowa is 41.6 kilometers from Gombe metropolis.[1] The dam is located about 37 kilometers to the east of the town Gombe and 5 km from the Dadin Kowa village,[2] and provides drinking water for the town. The dam was completed by the federal government in 1984, with the goal of providing irrigation and electricity for the planned Gongola sugar plantation project.[3]
| Dadin Kowa Dam | |
|---|---|
 Gongola River | |
| Location | Gombe State, Nigeria |
| Coordinates | 10°19′19″N 11°28′54″E / 10.32194°N 11.48167°E |
| Opening date | 1984 |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Gongola River |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Lake Dadin Kowa |
| Total capacity | 800 million m3 |
| Surface area | 300 km2 |
Description edit
The reservoir which is designed to have a water capacity of 2.8 billion cubic meters making it the 2nd largest dam in the country[4][5] and a surface area of 300 square kilometers, and has potential as a source of fishing.[6][7] 26,000 people were displaced by the reservoir, receiving little assistance for resettlement.[8] The reservoir is suspected to be a major breeding site for black flies, which cause river blindness.[9]
The water supply project was built at a cost of about N8.2billion by CGC Nigeria, a Chinese company, completed during the administration of Governor Mohammed Danjuma Goje. In 2010 it was providing about 30,000 cubic meters daily, treated at a plant three kilometers from the dam before being piped to storage reservoirs in Gombe while supplying communities along the road.[10]
In August 2001, the federal government announced that it would spend $32 million to complete.
the Dadin Kowa Dam power generation facilities.[11] In March 2009 N7 billion was allocated to complete the hydro-electrical generation component of the dam, and another N500 million to complete the canal, which would irrigate 6,600 hectares of farmland.[7] In August 2009 Governor Goje said that less than N600 million was needed to provide the canals.[12]
After prioritization by the government for completion of the project in 2016, the ministry concluded completion of the dam in August 2021.[13] As of September 2021, the Ministry of Power hadn't enabled full use of energy from the dam as part of the grid.[14][13]
Appearance of Hippopotamus in the Dadin Kowa dam edit
Around 2015, a hippopotamus appeared in Dadin Kowa and became a threat to the community where it destroyed their farm produce and stopped them from going to their farms. According to one wildlife officer, he said the hippo came from Kiri Dam. He also said the hippo passed through Shani Local Government through some parts of Nafada and Funakaye Local Government Areas, the hippo was killed by the soldiers with the help of local hunters.[15]
Federal Government Commissioned 40 mega watt Dadin Kowa hydro power project edit
The federal government has commissioned a 40 megawatt Dadin Kowa Hydropower Project in Gombe State MABON GROUP, a company had secured and was awarded 25 year build -operate-transfer concession in respect to the Dadin Kowa Hydropower plant project in Nigeria. Mabon has completed the hydropower plant project and has been operational and contributing power to the national grid since.[16]
Climate edit
Dadin Kowa, which is 0 feet (0 meters) above sea level, has a tropical wet and dry or savanna climate (Classification: Aw). The district averages a yearly temperature of 31.55 oC (88.79 oF), which is 2.09% higher than the national average for Nigeria. 69.05 millimeters (2.72 inches) of precipitation and 99.44 rainy days (27.24 percent of the time) are typical yearly totals for Dadin Kowa.[17]
References edit
- ^ "41.6 Km Distance from Gombe to Dadin Kowa". www.distancesto.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ "3 years after completion, 40mw Dadin-Kowa hydropower plant dormant". Daily Trust. 2022-11-05. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
- ^ "Dadin Kowa Dam". Goodlife. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- ^ "Nigeria ICRC PPP Platform". ppp.icrc.gov.ng. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
- ^ "Gombe community awaits 32-year power project's inauguration". Punch Newspapers. 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2022-10-09.
- ^ Timawus Mathias (17 February 2010). "Jonathan Needs More Than Good Luck". Daily Trust. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- ^ a b "FG earmarks N7bln for Dadin Kowa Dam project in Gombe". Radio Kwara. 2009-03-28. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- ^ William Mark Adams (2001). Green development: environment and sustainability in the Third World. Routledge. p. 238. ISBN 0-415-14766-2.
- ^ "Gombe Fights River Blindness". Leadership (Abuja). 29 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2011-07-14. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- ^ Mike Ogbu (23 March 2010). "Gombe Rural Communities Enjoy Potable Water -Isa". Daily Independent. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- ^ Kingsley Nwezeh (29 August 2001). "FG to Spend $32m On Gombe Dam Project". ThisDay. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
- ^ Segun Awofadeji (29 August 2009). "Goje Urges FG On Mambila Power Project". ThisDay.
- ^ a b "Governor Inuwa makes case for full utilisation of completed Dadinkowa Hydro power plant". Tribune Online. 2021-09-14. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ "Gombe: Governor makes case for Dadin Kowa multi-purpose dam". The Sun Nigeria. 2021-09-13. Retrieved 2022-03-11.
- ^ "At Dadin Kowa Dam, it's locals vs. hippos - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
- ^ Onyedinefu, Godsgift (2023-05-22). "FG inaugurates hydropower project in Gombe". Businessday NG. Retrieved 2023-05-30.
- ^ "Dadin Kowa, Gombe, NG Climate Zone, Monthly Averages, Historical Weather Data". tcktcktck.org. Retrieved 2023-08-29.