Theophilus Yakubu (TY) Danjuma, a Nigerian millionaire and former defense minister, has formally seized control of the Kashimbila Hydro Electricity Dam, a significant step toward electrifying Taraba State in northeastern Nigeria.
At the handover event at Kashimbila, Taraba State’s Takum Local Government Area, Danjuma underlined that the concession represented the start of a long and difficult journey to ensure the state’s reliable electricity supply. He noted that, despite the dam’s completion, local infrastructure is still inadequate to handle the electrical output.
“The power generated is too strong for the current installations in Takum and surrounding areas,” Danjuma added, emphasizing the importance of improving residential wiring to avoid hazards like electrical fires. He went on to say that the dam concession was part of a long-term plan to fully optimize the dam’s capabilities and modernize the state’s aging power supply.
Danjuma admitted that, while citizens expect immediate improvements, a total rewiring of the state is required before the full benefits of the dam’s electrical generation can be achieved. “The state needs to be rewired all over,” he said in a statement issued by Emmanuel Bello, Taraba State governor’s spokesperson.
The Kashimbila Dam, which was previously a federal project, is now administered by a consortium led by Danjuma’s company. In addition to power generation, the dam is projected to transform the area into a tourism hotspot, with an airport and a five-star hotel currently under construction. These projects demonstrate Danjuma’s expanding importance in business and community development.
TY Danjuma, 85, remains a prominent figure in Nigerian business and philanthropy. He is the largest stakeholder in Industrial and Medical Gases Nigeria Plc and the founder of South Atlantic Petroleum. His recent initiatives, including gifts for a state-of-the-art hostel at the University of Benin and a skill acquisition facility in Yobe State, demonstrate his dedication to improving life in Nigeria.
