He said his government was ready to support the projects financially if only to provide the state electricity and urged the Federal Government to establish mini hydro power plants on Ankpa and Ayingba dams.
The governor was speaking when the Minister of State for Power, Arc. Darius Ishaku paid him a courtesy call as part of his inspection of ongoing irrigation schemes in the state, a statement from the ministry said.
He said the frightening youth unemployment in the state would partly be mitigated when the projects are completed.
The governor said the state was prepared to bear part of the financial burden to ensure successful completion and delivery of the various power projects for immediate use.
The Minister of State for Power, Arc. Darius Ishaku said funding was the major challenge to the completion of irrigation projects embarked upon by the Federal Government in the state and noted that lack of commitment by contractors handling the projects was another challenge to the administration.
He told the governor that he had visited Girinya irrigation scheme in Koton Karfe Local Government Area of the state and Lokoja Water Supply expansion project as well as Kampe Omi Dam irrigation project and Ejule Ojebe irrigation scheme in Ibaji Local Government Area of the state.
He warned contractors to either go back to sites or be sanctioned as government would not hesitate to terminate any contract where the contractor showed no sign of seriousness. He said the mandate to restore sanity to the power sector transcends any consideration. It is a directive that must be accomplished, the minister noted.
The Minister identified employment generation, establishment of cottage industries and improvement in the standard of living of the rural communities as some of the benefits derivable from the projects when completed.
