BY MUSA IDRIS UMAR, AUGUST 03, 2025 | 12:58 PM

Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has assured residents of Maiduguri that there is no immediate threat of flooding from the rising water levels at the Alau Dam, despite growing concerns following recent heavy rainfall in the state capital.

The governor, while addressing journalists after inspecting the ongoing reconstruction work at the dam on Saturday, said although the widespread panic was a serious concern for his administration, current assessments showed there was no cause for alarm.

'As at now, based on the engineering knowledge we are having, we concluded that there is no cause for alarm,' Gov. Zulum stated.

'However, nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, we are working and shall continue to monitor this programme. The contractor is doing a good job.'

According to the governor, the water level at the dam had dropped by about four inches in recent days, and new channels had been opened to allow water to flow freely, thereby reducing the pressure on the dam.

He used the opportunity to issue a stern warning to residents, particularly those living in flood-prone areas, against environmental violations.

He urged them to stop dumping refuse into drainage systems and to avoid building structures on natural water channels.

'Most importantly, I want to warn the people of this state to desist from building on water ways, and they should be very careful,' he cautioned.

'If you have drainage in front of your house, you have to make sure you clean it all the time.' The governor also revealed that his administration would review the state's master plan to identify and correct distortions, particularly those affecting water flow across Maiduguri.

'We must go back to the drawing board and then look at the master plan and ensure that all tributaries and all water ways shall be cleared so as to allow inflow of water to the main canal,' he said.

'We must enforce certain environmental standards, which is very painful but I believe we have no option.'

On the delayed reconstruction work at the dam, Zulum attributed the setback to some technical procedures but noted that contractors had now resumed fully.

He also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N80 billion for the execution of the project.