Borno Flood: Tinubu Approves N80bn for Alao Dam Reconstruction

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved N80 billion for the immediate reconstruction and expansion of the Alau Dam in Borno State. Located in the Alau community of Konduga, Borno, the dam was built between 1984 and 1986 on the Ngadda River, a tributary of Lake Chad.

In 2024, the dam collapsed, leading to severe flooding in Borno State that claimed over 150 lives and displaced at least 419,000 people.

The approval, announced by the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, came after a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, which was presided over by President Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

Prof. Utsev explained that the approval followed the submission of a report by the Ministerial Committee on Dam Evaluation, which he chairs.

The committee was set up on September 23, 2024, and inaugurated on October 2, 2024. It was tasked with assessing the state of all dams in Nigeria and recommending solutions for their optimal use in water supply, flood control, irrigation, and fish farming.

The committee evaluated about 35 dams, and an interim report was presented to the FEC. Following the flooding on September 10, 2024, the committee focused on Alau Dam, analyzing its design and current state. The report was submitted to the President, who approved the N80 billion for its immediate reconstruction and expansion.

Prof. Utsev added that the Borno State Government is collaborating with the sub-committee and the National Security Advisory Office to launch the project. The first phase of the project, aimed at preventing further flooding in Maiduguri, is expected to begin before July 2025. Desilting and other components of the project will follow, with the entire project set for completion in 24 months.