Construction of the dam began in 1974 and was completed in 1978, after which it took three years for the reservoir to fill.
The dam is a 5.5 km (3 mi) earth-fill embankment, with a central concrete structure 360 m long and 48 m high incorporating a small 3MW hydroelectric power plant.
The irrigation pipes and canals were not completed until 1983 and covered only 23,000 hectares compared to 30,000 hectares originally planned.
Water was delivered to 15,000 hectares by sprinklers and to 8,000 hectares by gravity.
Sprinklers are expensive but make more efficient use of water if well maintained.
After cost overruns, the irrigation project ended up as one of the most expensive per hectare in the world.

Construction of the dam, with land leveling, clearing and canal construction destroyed valuable farmland and trees.
The local farmers became landless peasants.
Most received no compensation, or were given worthless land.
Those that stayed were forced to grow unfamiliar crops such as wheat.

During construction, the local farmers were deprived of the means to make a living for several years.
Confronted by demonstrators in November 1979, the governor of Sokoto State, Shehu Kangiwa, promised to address all their grievances.
However, on 28 April 1980 police moved in on unarmed demonstrators and killed over 380 people.
The government played down the incident, claiming only 25 had died.
Construction of the dam began in 1974 and was completed in 1978, after which it took three years for the reservoir to fill. The dam is a 5.5 km (3 mi) earth-fill embankment, with a central concrete structure 360 m long and 48 m high incorporating a small 3MW hydroelectric power plant. The irrigation pipes and canals were not completed until 1983 and covered only 23,000 hectares compared to 30,000 hectares originally planned. Water was delivered to 15,000 hectares by sprinklers and to 8,000 hectares by gravity. Sprinklers are expensive but make more efficient use of water if well maintained. After cost overruns, the irrigation project ended up as one of the most expensive per hectare in the world.
Construction of the dam, with land leveling, clearing and canal construction destroyed valuable farmland and trees. The local farmers became landless peasants. Most received no compensation, or were given worthless land. Those that stayed were forced to grow unfamiliar crops such as wheat.
During construction, the local farmers were deprived of the means to make a living for several years. Confronted by demonstrators in November 1979, the governor of Sokoto State, Shehu Kangiwa, promised to address all their grievances. However, on 28 April 1980 police moved in on unarmed demonstrators and killed over 380 people. The government played down the incident, claiming only 25 had died.
Bakolori Dam