Following the approval of N80billion for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Alau Dam by President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, has disclosed the readiness of the government to commence work on the dam.
Prof. Utsev, announced this in a statement on Thursday by his Personal Assistant on Media and Publicity, Terhemen Oraduen.
This was after meeting with a delegation from the Borno State Government with the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Mr. Richard Pheelangwah, Chairman and Members of the Technical Subcommittee on Evaluation of Dams in Nigeria and the Acting Managing Director Chad Basin Development Authority in attendance.
Alau dam was blamed for killing over 150 people and displaced at least 419,000 in Maiduguri in September 2024.
Addressing the delegation, Prof. Utsev said he called for the meeting following the outcome of his discussion with the Governor of Borno State Prof. Babagana Zulum to enable both the Federal and Borno State Governments work as a team to come out with a template and recommendations to guide the contractor on how best the work would be carried out.
He informed the delegation that the Interministerial Technical Committee inaugurated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to evaluate the integrity of Dams and Reservoirs in the country which he chaired has so far assessed thirty five Dams and presented its interim report while the final report would be presented to the Council as soon as the committee completes its assignment.
He however said Alau Dam was a special case that needed immediate intervention which necessitated the representation of its report to Mr President for action who has graciously approved Eighty Billion Naira for the commencement of the project.
According to the Minister, the work is expected to be completed within twenty four months while the first component would commence from this month and end in July with the second phase starting from October and assured the Borno State Government of its full participation in the project execution to ensure timely completion.
Prof. Utsev expressed hope that the Dam when completed would boost irrigation farming in Borno state , improve hydropower generation in the North East and appealed to the Borno State Government to ensure adequate provision of security to the project site to enable a smooth execution of the project.
On his part, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation Mr Richard Pheelangwah said the synergy between the Federal and Borno State Government was key to achieving success on the project.
Responding, leader of the Borno State Government delegation and Commissioner for Water Resources in Borno,Engr Tijani Goni who described Professor Utsev as a man of his words, particularly expressed appreciation to the Minister for taking the issue of Alau Dam as his personal project saying the people of Borno State would ever remain grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Professor Utsev when the dam is finally completed .
He assured the Minister that the Borno State Government would provide adequate security to the project site and coorporate with the contractor handling the project to ensure timely completion.
