The Federal Government on Wednesday said it has concluded plans to concession eight of the Nation’s hydropower dams in order to improve power generation.

The hydropower dams, the government said, will be handed over to the unnamed firms soon.

This was made known by Abubakar Aliyu, assistant Director, Hydropower in the office of Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing during a familiarization tour to Bakolori Irrigation Scheme in Talata Mafara, Zamfara state.

Aliyu said the ministry was partnering with the federal ministry of water resources to increase power generation in the country.

“Eight hydropower dams have been earmarked to be concessioned on power generation. It will take effect soon,” he said.

The Project Coordinator, Transforming Irrigation Management in Nigeria, TRIMING, Peter Manjuk, said that six states will benefit from the irrigation project, including Zamfara, Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa and Gombe.

He explained that the aim of the project is to rehabilitate all existing dams so as to meet the irrigation and hydropower needs of the country, adding that the World Bank-sponsored project to rehabilitate the Bakolori irrigation scheme would be completed within three years.

The Project Manager, Lawal Maidoki, pointed out that the dam had been providing domestic water supply to Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states since it was established in 1983.

He said there was need for investors to come in to rehabilitate the dam towards improving food production, flood control and power generation.

Maidoki added that with the TRIMING project, farmers would put in their best to increase food production.