Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum sought to reassure residents of Maiduguri and Jere local government areas regarding the rising water levels at the Alau Dam, following public anxiety triggered by recent flooding and a history of dam breaches.
During an inspection of the rehabilitation site, Zulum addressed concerns sparked by a Wednesday flood that collapsed eight buildings and submerged a graveyard, displacing hundreds, and the dam’s collapse on September 10, 2024, which claimed 150 lives and displaced over a million people, causing billions in property damage. The governor noted that contractors, mobilized with an $80 million federal allocation approved by President Tinubu, are accelerating repairs, with 40% completion achieved since work resumed in October 2024.
Zulum emphasized ongoing dredging and dyke reinforcement, alongside a masterplan to clear waterways, as preventive measures, urging residents to trust in early warning systems established with NEMA. However, skepticism persists, with locals citing poor maintenance and delayed action post-2024 as reasons for distrust, and some environmentalists questioning the dam’s capacity to handle increased rainfall linked to climate change.
The narrative of reassurance is critical for community stability, but its credibility hinges on transparent progress and addressing systemic infrastructure vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s flood-prone north-east.