The Federal Government through the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee under the Chairmanship of the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev has visited Alau Dam in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital with assurance that the entire Dam and it’s facilities would be overhauled and desilted.

This followed a flood disaster which took place on 10th September, 2024 after the collapse of the Dam which led to loss of many lives, displacement of over a million people with critical infrastructures and farmlands worth billions of naira destroyed in some parts of the state.The Minister who was represented by the Director Dams and Reservoirs in the ministry, Engr. Aliyu Ibrahim Dala who also led other members of the Technical sub-committee on Evaluation of Dams in Nigeria on Tuesday said, they were at the site of one of the collapsed Dyke which gave way into Maiduguri and its environs to evaluate the physical condition, social and environmental implications of the Alau Dam on local communities, and draw up a programme to address the short and long term durable solutions.

This is as the Borno State Chairman Technical Sub-Committee on Development around Alau Dam, Engr. Mohammed Abba Sanda has attributed massive rainfall received from streams, tributaries into the Dam, and the lack of access to Rivers Yedzaram and Gambole to block some structures or divert water charging into Alau Lake due to Boko Haram presence in nearby Sambisa Forests caused the Major set back.

In an interview with leader of the delegation, Engineer Aliyu Ibrahim Dala said, “the Federal Government Team were in Borno state to see and evaluate the current situation of the Alau Dam and other critical Dams in Nigeria.

“This Committee was formed as a result of the flood disaster in Maiduguri triggered by the collapse of a dyke in Alau Dam.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has graciously approved an Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee which comprised of experts drawn from Ministries of Water Resources and Sanitation, Works and Housing, Environment, Budget and Finance, National Security Adviser (NSA), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Council for Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN) among others. We are all here today to evaluate the current situation with a view to proffer next line of action to desilt and overhaul the Dam.

“We are also mandated after detail study to provide best option on how to raise the reservoir as it is the main source of drinking water and irrigation to people in Maiduguri, Jere, Mafa and other local government areas of the state.

” Government is fully committed in supporting this very important sub-committee to carry out it’s mandates before the next rainy season, to ensure that not only about Alau Dam is safe, but other Dams such as segmentation of Kiri and Dadin Kowa Dams in the North East and other critical Dams in South South, South East, South West, North West and other geo-political zones”.

Dala stated.On his part, the Borno State Chairman Technical Sub-Committee on Development around Alau Dam, and former Permanent Secretary Ministry of Works, Engr. Mohammed Abba Sanda who conducted the Federal government team round the Dam structures, said, his committee which was inaugurated by Governor Babagana Zulum was to establish immediate and remote causes of the failure of the Alau Dam, which he said, received rainfall this year three (3) times above normal annual rainfall. He also said, the committee is charged with mandate to evaluate the balance of water that remained in the lake to provide durable short term solutions, as majority of people in Maiduguri and its environs rely or depends heavily on the water for human and domestic consumption.

On whether there is negligence on the part of government in recharging the lake, he said: “No…. It is unfortunate that massive rainfall received from streams, tributaries into the Alau Dam, and the lack of access to Rivers Yedzaram and Gambole to block some structures or divert water charging into Lake Alau due to Boko Haram presence in nearby Sambisa Forests caused the Major set back”.

Related News