The Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA) has issued an urgent flood alert to communities and farmers downstream of Goronyo Dam, warning of increased water releases following heavy inflows and rising levels beyond the dam’s holding capacity.
In a statement signed on Saturday by Abubakar Bagudu, Technical Adviser to the Managing Director, the agency explained that the decision was taken to protect the structural integrity of the dam and avert a large-scale disaster.
The Managing Director of SRRBDA, Abubakar Malam, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to transparent communication with stakeholders on water management to prevent avoidable tragedies.
According to SRRBDA, the surge was triggered by the recent breach of Kankiya Dam in Katsina State, compounded by intense rainfall in the catchment areas. This pushed Goronyo Dam beyond its storage limit of 943 million cubic meters.
“As a matter of urgency, necessitated by the need to protect its integrity and avoid high-impact disaster on downstream communities, the water release has been increased from 300 cubic meters per second to 550 cubic meters per second,” the statement read.
The agency urged farmers and residents in flood-prone areas to evacuate immediately and remain on high alert, assuring that it will continue to provide timely updates to safeguard lives and livelihoods.
Commissioned in 1992, Goronyo Dam is the largest multi-purpose reservoir in Sokoto State, supporting irrigation farming, water supply, fisheries, and flood control. The dam, located on the Rima River, is central to the Sokoto–Rima Basin irrigation projects that sustain thousands of farmers and communities.
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However, whenever water levels exceed its storage capacity, the dam has posed major flood risks. In 2010 and 2018, excess releases caused devastating floods in Sokoto and Kebbi States, destroying farmlands, displacing residents, and claiming lives.
The latest SRRBDA warning underscores its proactive efforts to prevent a repeat of such disasters by keeping stakeholders informed and encouraging swift preventive action.
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