Federal government has flagged off the reconstruction of Alau Dam in Borno state.
Gatekeepers News reports that more than 30 people were killed on September 9, and 400,000 were displaced by floods in Maiduguri, Borno state capital due to collapse of the dam.
Federal Executive Council (FEC) on February 4, approved N80 billion to reconstruct and rehabilitate the dam.
Speaking on Saturday at the flag-off ceremony in Maiduguri, Joseph Utsev, minister of water resources and sanitation, said the project is a testament to the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu-led administration.
He said, “The occasion of today will not be compete without expressing my humble and deep gratitude to our amiable visionary leader His excellency President Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for making this event a reality.”
The minister noted that approval of the project followed recommendation of the technical committee set up to look into the integrity of dams across the country.
According to Utsev; the project which would be completed within 24 months, will be carried out in two phases.
The first will run from March to September 2025 and will cover the immediate intervention of flood risk in the state.
He noted that the second phase which will begin in October until the completion of the reconstruction, will focus on extensive desilting and structural enhancement, to ensure long-term functionality of the dam.
Utsev added, “I wish to appeal to your excellency the executive governor of Borno, Babagana Zulum, and the people of the state to support the contractors who will be with you on behalf of the federal government of Nigeria throughout the period of time project.”
Speaking, Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno noted that the project signifies not just the repair of a physical structure, but revitalisation of hope and prosperity for people of the state.
Zulum urged federal government to consider running the proposed phases of the projects concurrently, due to the importance of desilting to the reconstruction of the dam.
