Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council has established a committee to assess the structural integrity of Alau Dam in Borno State, as well as other dams across the country, following recent flood disasters in Maiduguri and other regions. The committee will develop detailed designs and recommendations for the reconstruction and future use of these dams.
Speaking after a Council meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Terleum Utsev, emphasised the government’s concern over flooding, particularly in Maiduguri. The Minister recalled that in 2022, the Ministry of Water Resources had requested additional funding from the National Assembly and support from the Borno State government to address components of the 38-year-old Alau Dam that were in disrepair.
Minister Utsev confirmed that the committee, which includes the Ministers of Finance, Water Resources, Agriculture, and others, will reevaluate the dam’s condition and make recommendations for comprehensive reconstruction to support water supply, irrigation, and flood control.
Utsev also addressed concerns regarding the release of water from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon, noting that the Ministry has issued warnings to residents living in river valley areas about potential flooding risks.