Zulum Urges FG to Speed Up Alau Dam Repairs to Prevent Maiduguri Floods
By Ibrahim Umar,
Kanempress News,
23rd, December,2024
Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, has called on the federal government to accelerate the reconstruction of the collapsed dyke at Alau Dam, which has led to flooding in Maiduguri Metropolis and its surrounding local government areas.
Located in the Alau community of Konduga, Borno State, the Alau Dam was constructed between 1984 and 1986 to provide water for irrigation and domestic use in Maiduguri.
Governor Zulum made this appeal on Monday after receiving the report from the assessment committee that investigated the cause of the dam’s collapse. With approximately four months until the next rainy season, Zulum emphasized the urgency for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to expedite the reconstruction efforts.
“By next week, we shall be in January, and rainfall will set in some parts of Borno State by March. We have limited time! The earlier we begin something, the better for us. The federal government assessment team was in Maiduguri, and they had a consultation with the committee we inaugurated,” Zulum stated.
He further expressed his determination to push the matter forward, indicating that if no action is taken soon, he will personally appeal to the President to allow the Northeast Development Commission to take over and commence the reconstruction immediately. “If we decide to wait for the bureaucracy, I am afraid we will run out of time,” he warned.
Governor Zulum assured that despite limited resources, his administration would collaborate with the federal government to prevent another devastating flood in Borno. He noted that the state government committee had already implemented temporary measures to stop water from spilling from the dam.
“As a responsible government, we will not fold our arms and wait for the federal government until another disaster occurs, despite the flooding having seriously affected our financial capacity,” Zulum affirmed.
This call to action underscores the critical need for timely intervention to safeguard the lives and properties of residents in Maiduguri and its environs.
