The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said the reconstruction and upgrade of the Alau Dam is progressing on schedule and will deliver lasting solutions to flooding, water supply challenges, and agricultural needs in Borno State.
The ministry disclosed this on Friday in a press statement signed by its Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs. Funmi Imuetinyan.
The statement noted that Utsev was on a working visit to the dam site in Maiduguri on Thursday, where he led a high-powered delegation from the ministry to inspect the ongoing works.
In June, the governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, and the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar El-Kanemi, appealed to the Federal Government to fast-track the rehabilitation and expansion of the Alau Dam.
Zulum, who expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the project, warned that at the dawn of this year’s rainy season, urgent action was needed.
Meanwhile, the minister explained that the first phase of the project, targeted at flood mitigation, commenced in March 2025 and is expected to be completed by September 2025.
He said the second phase, which focuses on the full-scale upgrade of the dam, will begin in October 2025 and is scheduled for completion by March 2027.
Utsev reiterated that President Bola Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, approved the reconstruction and upgrading of Alau Dam. He further added:
“This intervention is critical, not just to prevent another disaster, but to reposition this dam as a multipurpose facility for drinking water, irrigation, and even hydro-power generation in the near future,” he said.
He recalled the Alau Dam incident of September 2024, which caused severe flooding, loss of lives, and the destruction of infrastructure and property worth billions of naira, and highlighted that the ongoing reconstruction aims to ensure that such a tragedy does not recur.
During the inspection, he visited the main dam gated spillway and proceeded to the cofferdam, where the contractor is currently filling and reinforcing the structure.
He noted that the water levels remained under control at the time of the visit and reassured the public that there was no cause for alarm.
He further revealed that the contractor is executing the work professionally and in line with approved timelines.
He directed that necessary adjustments be made to the dam’s gates to allow for controlled water flow, ensuring safety during the rainy season.
The minister urged the Borno State Government to intensify public sensitisation, especially among local farmers, to halt agricultural activities along the dam’s embankment, which he noted could compromise the safety and structural integrity of the project.
“We understand that some farmers are still cultivating around the dam embankment, which poses a serious risk to both the workers and the infrastructure.
“We are appealing to the State Government to begin a strong awareness campaign to stop this,” he added.
