Zulum urges FG to fix Alau Dam, prevent floods
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has urged the federal government to expedite the reconstruction of the collapsed dyke at Alau Dam, which led to flooding in Maiduguri Metropolis and surrounding local government areas (LGAs).
The Alau Dam, located in the Alau community of Konduga Local Government Area in Borno State, was built between 1984 and 1986 to provide water for irrigation and domestic use in Maiduguri.
Zulum made this appeal on Monday after receiving a report from the assessment committee that investigated the cause of the dam’s collapse. He expressed concern that, with just four months until the next rainy season, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources must accelerate the dam’s reconstruction process.
He emphasized, “By next week, we will be in January, and rainfall will start in some parts of Borno State by March. Time is running out! The earlier we begin, the better. The federal government’s assessment team visited Maiduguri and consulted with the committee we set up.”
He further stated, “As a state government, we will persist on this matter. If there is no action in the next few days, I will personally visit the President and appeal for the Northeast Development Commission to take over and begin reconstruction immediately. Delaying due to bureaucracy risks wasting valuable time.”
Zulum expressed confidence that with urgent and serious commitment, substantial parts of the collapsed dyke could be rebuilt before the rains set in.
The governor also highlighted that the committee had implemented temporary measures to prevent further water spillover from the dam.
Despite the state’s limited resources, Zulum assured that his administration would continue to collaborate with the federal government to prevent future flooding disasters in Borno.
He concluded, “As a responsible government, we will not sit idly and wait for the federal government to act before another disaster strikes, even though the flooding has severely impacted our financial capacity.”
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