By: Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
The Federal Government has announced plans to fully overhaul and desilt the Alau Dam in Maiduguri, Borno State, following the devastating floods of September 10th, which claimed numerous lives, displaced over a million people, and caused billions of naira in damage to critical infrastructure and farmlands.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, made this known during an assessment visit to the dam led by the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee. Utsev, represented by Malam Aliyu Dala, Director of Dams and Reservoirs in the ministry, emphasized that the collapsed dyke, which triggered the flood, is a primary concern for the committee.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to conducting a thorough evaluation of the dam’s structural integrity, as well as its social and environmental impact on surrounding communities. Utsev assured the public that both short- and long-term measures would be implemented to prevent future disasters.
“The collapse of the dyke at Alau Dam, which led to severe flooding in Maiduguri and neighboring areas, prompted the formation of this committee,” said Utsev. “Our focus includes raising the reservoir level, which serves as a key water source for Maiduguri, Jere, Mafa, and other local government areas.”
He added that the committee would complete its work before the next rainy season, and that the government’s efforts would extend to other dams in the region, such as Kiri and Dadin Kowa, to ensure safety across the board.
Borno State’s Technical Sub-Committee on Development around Alau Dam, led by Alhaji Mohammed Sanda, accompanied the team on the site visit. Sanda noted that Maiduguri residents heavily depend on the dam for water, attributing the recent flooding to heavy rainfall, blocked river paths, and the diversion of water into Lake Alau.
The Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee includes experts from various federal ministries, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and COREN, who are tasked with formulating sustainable solutions to prevent such disasters in the future.
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