BORNO State governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving N80 billion for the reconstruction and upgrade of Alau Dam.
Alau Dam collapsed on the 10th of September 2024, triggering a devastating flooding of Maiduguri metropolis and parts of Jere Local Government Area of Borno State which affected more than one million people and the destruction of many properties.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev on Tuesday made public the approval of the said sum after the second Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Mr Utsev, also the chairman of the inter-ministerial committee on dams, revealed that the President had approved the rehabilitation of Alau Dam, pending ratification by the FEC. The committee was inaugurated on 2 October 2024, to assess dams nationwide and recommend improvements for better usage.
“The committee, established on 23 September 2024, includes the ministers of finance, environment, works, information, and the National Security Adviser as members. President Tinubu gave approval of N80 billion for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Alau Dam in Borno State, and this is awaiting ratification of FEC while due processes are being observed.
“The Borno State government is working together to kick start the project between now and July 2025. The first component will be established to ensure flooding does not occur in Borno State in 2025. The project is to be carried out within the next 24 months,” the minister added.
Utsev earlier disclosed that the committee assessed 35 Dams after its inauguration and considered the Alau Dam as most critical and most immediate for reconstruction and rehabilitation. It would be recalled that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the setting up of a committee to re-assess the integrity of the Alau Dam and other dams across the country.
However, in a statement by the Special Adviser to Borno State Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, the governor described President Tinubu’s approval as exhilarating.
“I am most gladdened by this uncommon expression of leadership and good governance by our leader, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for approving this monumental amount to reconstruct and upgrade the dam,” Zulum stated.
“I regard this decision to reconstruct the dam as the most gladdening tiding, not only for the millions of farmers and fishermen and the innumerable other people conducting various economic activities in and around the dam but to the state government that is striving to resuscitate and reposition agricultural production as the most critical economic activity for the rebuilding and stabilization of our society devastated by Boko Haram insurgency,” Governor Zulu reiterated.
The governor expressed confidence that the reconstruction of the dam will effectively forestall the occurrence of flooding that may aggravate the vulnerability of a population devastated by insurgency.
He described the decision as Mr President’s expression of irrevocable commitment to rebirthing Nigeria for rapid prosperity in all aspects of societal life according to emerging imperatives with the Renewed Hope Agenda as a potent tool.
The governor recalled Mr President’s personal sympathy visit to Maiduguri during the disaster and the quantum of support of food and non-food items provided which greatly alleviated the suffering of the affected victims.
Zulum conveyed the heartfelt gratitude of the government and the entire people of Borno State to President Tinubu for his rare show of carrying all sections of the country along in terms of the distribution of critical projects and programmes.
He assured Mr President of the government and the entire people of Borno State of continued support for his people-oriented and national development policies, programmes and projects to renew the Hope of Nigerians for rapid growth and sustainable prosperity.
Eighteen-Eleven Media