On Tuesday, the Federal Executive Council received interim reports on the structural integrity of 35 dams across Nigeria and approved N80bn for the immediate reconstruction and expansion of the Alau Dam in Borno State.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, disclosed this during a briefing with State House Correspondents following the 23rd Council meeting at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, chaired by President Bola Tinubu.
Utsev explained that the approval came after an assessment of the Alau Dam’s integrity, along with that of 34 other dams across the country, following the collapse of the Alau Dam last September.
“Mr. President graciously gave an approval of N80bn for the reconstruction and expansion of Alau Dam in Borno state,” he announced.
In early September 2024, Maiduguri, the capital of the northeastern state of Borno, was inundated with floods as deteriorated portions of the Alau Dam were overridden by heavy rains.
The rapid rise of water affected more than 23,000 households and ravaged major city locations, including the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Umar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi; the state secretariat, post office, cemetery, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, among others.
In 2024, floods reportedly killed over 321 persons, injured 20,845 and displaced 1,374,557 people in 217 local government areas across 34 states. 250,800 hectares of cultivated farmlands were also destroyed or affected by the rapid floods last year.
At the 17th council meeting on September 23, the Federal Government established a technical committee to reassess the integrity of Alau Dam in Borno State and other similar structures nationwide.
The committee comprised the Ministers of Water Resources and Sanitation as its Chairperson, Finance, Works, Housing and Urban Development, Budget and Economic Planning, Office of the National Security Adviser, and the Minister of Information.
Utsev, who briefed journalists then, said the directive followed extensive discussions on flooding across the country with emphasis on Maiduguri.
The committee was mandated to deliver its report, which includes detailed designs and recommendations for the overall reconstruction of the 38-year-old dam for future use.
Utsev’s committee is also expected to recommend optimal ways to utilise the dams for water supply, flood control, irrigation, fish farming and other purposes.
The minister said the interim report submitted to the council on Tuesday covers 35 dams so far, as more studies are required for a comprehensive report.
He noted that to support its work, the committee formed a subcommittee that co-opted members of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, and the Council of Dams Experts in Nigeria.
“So the committee swung into action and brought out recommendations of about 35 dams that have been assessed so far.
“Today, the interim report was presented to the Federal Executive Council. The Alau dam is very critical. We saw some challenges due to flooding on September 10 last year.
“The designs, analysis and everything of the Alau dam were done and presented to the subcommittee, and that report was presented to Mr President, and Mr President graciously gave the approval of N80bn for the reconstruction and expansion of Alau dam immediately, in Borno State.”
The minister noted that the committee’s broader review of the remaining 34 dams, as well as others under assessment, was ongoing.
He added that subsequent reports would be shared with both the Federal Executive Council and the public.
Regarding Alau Dam specifically, Utsev said the President’s approval still awaits ratification by the Federal Executive Council, once all required due diligence is finalised.
The contract, in the sum of N80bn, is slated for execution by Effect International Limited.
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