Editor
By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government of Nigeria has commenced an extensive review and revamp of the nation’s dam infrastructure, commencing with the Alau Dam in Borno State, which was impacted by the flood disaster on September 9, 2024.
Engr. Aliyu Ibrahim Dallah, Director of Dams and Reservoir Operations at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, revealed this initiative during an evaluation visit to the dam on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The delegation, comprising officials from the Federal Ministries of Environment, Works, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, and other water experts, was dispatched to evaluate the structural soundness of the Alau Dam and recommend sustainable strategies to avert future flooding incidents.
Engr. Dallah outlined that the proposed measures entail augmenting the dam’s reservoir capacity, desilting operations, and other interventions to fortify its resilience against natural calamities.
Moreover, Engr. Dallah underscored that analogous assessments would be carried out at other pivotal dam locations nationwide.
“Our objective is to scrutinize the present state of the Alau Dam, evaluate its repercussions on neighboring communities, and propose immediate as well as enduring resolutions. This scrutiny is an integral part of a comprehensive scheme to fortify Nigeria’s dam infrastructure,” stated Engr. Dallah.
He elaborated that President Bola Tinubu had sanctioned the formation of an Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee to supervise the nationwide reassessment of dams.
This committee, under the stewardship of the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has established a specialized Technical Sub-Committee to cater to the distinct requirements of each dam throughout the country.
This sub-committee, spearheaded by Engr. Dallah, incorporates specialists from the Ministries of Water Resources and Sanitation, Works and Housing, Environment, Budget and Finance, the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation (OSGF), among others.
Engr. Dallah emphasized the Federal Government’s dedication to completing these evaluations before the onset of the next rainy season.
“We are prioritizing the safeguarding and fortification of critical dams, not only the Alau Dam but also others such as the Kiri, Dadin Kowa, and Kourz dams in the North-East, as well as vital dams across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones,” he articulated.
He added that the government’s proactive stance mirrors its broader commitment to shielding national infrastructure and shielding communities from the escalating perils posed by climate change-induced disasters.
