The Borno State Government has expressed its readiness to embark on reconstruction work at Alau Dam from start to finish before the commencement of 2025 raining season.
Governor Babagana Zulum made this known when the 28-man Alau Dam Assessment Committee submitted its report.
This followed the conclusion of its assignment sequel to the dam’s collapse during the September 10, 2024 flood disaster.
Though Zulum said that his administration was ready to work in collaboration with the Federal Government’s assessment team if the need be for possible reconciliation of suggestions and recommendations made by both the state and the Federal Government’s committees to achieving the desired goal of having a befitting new Alau Dam.
The governor, at the submission of the report on Monday in Maiduguri, the state capital, said that the state was also looking at the possibility of bringing reliable construction firm which would likely deliver the kind of work needed for such project without compromising the required standard.
He, however, expressed his administration’s indifference in whosoever handle the project, adding that what matters to them was the execution of the project in line with the recommendations made by the committees to logical conclusion as and when due without compromise.
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Zulum assured the committee and the good people of Borno State that his administration would do whatever it takes to rebuild the dam, which was considered to be a major source of water supply to the state capital and neighbouring communities, without further delay.
The governor, while acknowledging some of the challenges being faced by the committee during its work, also commended its members for doing a job and announced that they would be giving another mandate to continue to work with the contractors that would handle the project for proper implementation of the committee’s recommendations in the reconstruction work.
Earlier, Abba Garba, the Chairman, 28-man Alau Dam Assessment Committee, said that the preparation of the committee’s report was conducted in collaboration with the National Committee on the Integrity of All Dams in Nigeria for amicable resolution.
He said that the report was designed in accordance with the terms of reference given to the committee, adding that the composition of his committee was made up of all professionals across the relevant fields which gave the report more credibility.
Garba said that the report also contained suggestions and recommendations based on data and interviews conducted during investigation with details on the proposed dam’s design and reconstruction plans.
The chairman, however, expressed their appreciation to the governor for giving them the opportunity to carry out the critical assignment.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Alau Dam is located at the Alau community, about 12km away from Maiduguri metropolis, under Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.
The dam, which was built in 1984 with the capacity of 112 cubic meters of water per day, accounts for about 40 percent of water needs of Maiduguri residents and its neighbouring communities of less than a million then.
NAN reports that the damaged reservoir was expected to continue to provide water supply to the increasing population of Maiduguri metropolis.
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