President Approves N80 Billion for Alau Dam Reconstruction in Borno

President Bola Tinubu has approved a sum of N80 billion for the reconstruction and expansion of the Alau Dam in Borno State. The approval, which is subject to ratification by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), was confirmed by Prof. Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources, during a briefing with journalists after the second FEC meeting of the year on Tuesday.

Prof. Utsev, who also chairs the inter-ministerial committee overseeing the country’s dams, explained that the committee was formed to assess the state of dams across Nigeria and recommend necessary improvements. The committee was inaugurated on October 2, 2024, and includes key stakeholders such as the ministers of finance, environment, works, and information, as well as the National Security Adviser.

The committee, established on September 23, 2024, has already assessed approximately 35 dams nationwide, with an interim report on these findings presented to the FEC. According to Utsev, the Alau Dam is particularly critical, especially in light of challenges posed by flooding on September 10, 2024.

Utsev assured that the Borno State government is collaborating closely with the sub-committee tasked with the project. The first phase of the reconstruction is expected to be completed before July, with decilting set to begin in December. The entire project, he said, is expected to take 24 months to finish.

The ongoing assessment of the remaining 34 dams is expected to lead to further recommendations for their improvement, which will be presented to the FEC and shared with the public.