The Federal Government, through the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee chaired by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, has conducted an assessment of the Alau Dam in Maiduguri, Borno State. This visit comes in the wake of a devastating flood disaster that occurred on September 10, 2024, following the collapse of the dam, resulting in significant loss of life, displacement of over a million people, and extensive damage to critical infrastructure and farmlands worth billions of naira.
Represented by the Director of Dams and Reservoirs in the ministry, Engr. Aliyu Ibrahim Dala, the minister led the technical sub-committee to evaluate the physical condition of the dam, as well as its social and environmental implications for local communities. The team aims to develop a program that addresses both short-term and long-term solutions for the dam’s overhaul and desilting.
Engr. Mohammed Abba Sanda, the Borno State Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee on Development around Alau Dam, attributed the flooding to excessive rainfall from nearby streams and tributaries, compounded by the inaccessibility of Rivers Yedzaram and Gambole due to blockages and the ongoing security challenges posed by Boko Haram in the adjacent Sambisa Forest.
In an interview, Engr. Dala outlined the government’s commitment to evaluating the current situation of Alau Dam and other critical dams across Nigeria. He stated, “This Committee was formed as a result of the flood disaster in Maiduguri triggered by the collapse of a dyke in Alau Dam.”
He also noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee comprising experts from various ministries and organizations, tasked with providing actionable recommendations for the dam’s improvement.
Dala emphasized the urgency of the project, stating that the government is dedicated to ensuring the safety of Alau Dam and other critical dams across Nigeria before the next rainy season, thereby securing a vital source of drinking water and irrigation for the residents of Maiduguri and surrounding areas.