FG to spend N80bn on reconstruction of Alao Dam

President Bola Tinubu has approved N80 billion for the immediate reconstruction and expansion of Alau dam in Borno State.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev disclosed this while briefing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

The dam collapsed in 2024, causing monumental damage across Maiduguri and its envrons. At least 150 people lost their lives and more than 419,000 households displaced.

He said the approval followed the submission of report of the evaluation committee set up on September 23, 2024 after the collapse of the dam.

“The mandate of that committee was to assess all dams in the country and come up with recommendations of how best the dams can be put to use, the areas of water supply, flood control, irrigation and fish farming, among others.

“The committee constituted a sub committee which coopted Members of the Nigeria Society of Engineers the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, and that of Council of dams experts in Nigeria.

“So the committee swooped into action and brought out recommendations of about 35 dams that have assessed so far.

“So, today the interim report was presented to the Federal Executive Council. We saw some challenges as a result of flooding on the 10th of September last year.

“So, the designs, analysis and everything of that particular dam, Alau dam, was done and presented to the sub committee, and that report was made before Mr President, and he graciously gave an approval of N80 billion for the reconstruction and expansion of Alau dam immediately, in Bono state.

He said that Borno state government is working with the sub committee and members of the Nigerian security advisory office.

“They are  working together to kick start that project, and we believe that between now and July this year, the first component of that work will be established, so that this year there will be no flooding in Maiduguri again.

“Then the other components like desilting will commence by December this year. The project is supposed to expand for a period of 24 months.”