A drinkable water supply, irrigation, flood control, and the generation of hydroelectric power were some of the socio-economic benefits associated with the renovated dam.
As part of a crucial infrastructure project aiming at flood control, water supply, and economic revival in the region, the federal government has formally kicked started the rehabilitation and upgrade of the Alau Dam in Maiduguri, which is located in Borno state.
Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, presided over the flag-off event that took place at the dam site.
During the ceremony, he reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to improving the infrastructure of water resources.
Utsev mentioned that the project was required because of the disastrous floods that occurred on September 10, 2024. These floods had a significant impact on Maiduguri and the people that were located in the surrounding area.
As a result of an evaluation conducted by a very influential Technical Committee on Dam Evaluation, he said that President Tinubu had granted approval for a sum of ₦80 billion to be allocated for the comprehensive reconstruction and enhancement of the dam.
According to Utsev, the project, which is scheduled to be carried out in two phases over the course of twenty-four months, will start with an emergency intervention from March 2025 to September 2025 in order to reduce the likelihood of flooding.
“The project, set to be executed in two phases over 24 months, will begin with an immediate intervention from March 2025 to September 2025 to mitigate flood risks.
“The second phase, focusing on extensive desilting and structural enhancements for long-term resilience, will run from October 2025 to March 2027.”
Residents of Borno State were given the assurance by the minister that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation will provide complete support for the implementation of the project with full support.
Reiterating that the project was essential to reestablishing a sense of hope and security in the state, he urged the engineers and contractors working on it to uphold the greatest standards of quality, safety, and environmental responsibility.
Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State, has expressed his sincere thanks to President Tinubu for putting the needs of the state at the forefront of his priorities.
A drinkable water supply, irrigation, flood control, and the generation of hydroelectric power were some of the socio-economic benefits that he noted as being associated with the renovated dam.
“The revitalization of hope and prosperity for our people is what this project represents,” Governor Zulum remarked. “It is not just the repair of a physical structure.”
To further hasten the process of desilting vital waterways, he urged that both phases of the project be carried out simultaneously.
Engr. Ali Dallah, who is the Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, summarized the scope of the work and offered technical details and information.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security; Senator Kenneth Eze, Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Water Resources; and Rt. Hon. Sada Soli, Chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources and Sanitation, all delivered messages of goodwill to the attendees of the event. All of these dignitaries were present at the event.