BY: ABDULKADIR M LAWAN, MARCH 1, 2025/ 06:37PM
The rehabilitation of the Alau Dam in Borno State has commenced, marking a significant step towards restoring the livelihoods and dignity of the people affected by the devastating flood disaster of 2024.
The Alau Dam, built between 1984 and 1986 which collapsed that led to flooding in September last is a vital water infrastructure project that has played a crucial role in supporting irrigation, drinking water supply, and flood control in the region.
The dam, which stores water from the Ngadda River, a Lake Chad tributary, has been a lifeline for thousands of people in Borno State, supporting agricultural activities, livestock production, and providing a reliable source of drinking water.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, emphasized the importance of the project, highlighting its benefits, including enhanced agricultural activities, improved water supply, flood control, economic diversification, and community empowerment.
'This groundbreaking ceremony is a testament to the Federal Government's unwavering commitment to rebuilding Borno State, not just in terms of physical infrastructure, but in restoring the livelihoods and dignity of our citizens.
'The restoration and rehabilitation of this dam will bring numerous benefits to our people. Enhanced Agricultural Productivity along the dams: This project will significantly improve irrigation capacity, enabling our farmers to cultivate more land and increase their yields. This will boost food security, create employment opportunities and contribute to the overall economic development of the state.
'We understand that sustainable development is inextricably linked to the availability of water resources, and the Alau Dam is crucial in this regard,' the governor explained.
He approved the construction of a primary school and hospital for Alau community to ensure development of the area.
While in his remarks, the minister of water resources and sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said that the rehabilitation will be conducted in two phases over a 24-month period.
Phase one will focus on critical interventions to mitigate immediate flood risks, while phase two will involve extensive distilling and structural enhancements to ensure the dam's long-term functionality and resilience.
'It is evident that the reconstruction and upgrade of Alau Dam will significantly enhance the provision of potable drinking water, support downstream irrigation, boost socio-economic activities and enable flood control while facilitating other viable socio-economic activities capable of revamping people's livelihoods and economic development. The project work is structured in two phases over a completion period of 24 months.
'The project work will be executed in two phases; the first phase will be executed between February and September 2025 to cover the critical interventions to mitigate immediate flood risks, while the second phase will focus on extensive distilling and structural enhancements to ensure long-term functionality and resilience of the dam, commencing from October 2025,' he explained.