Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar El-Kanemi, have called on the Federal Government to speed up the rehabilitation and expansion of the Alau Dam to prevent another flooding disaster in the state.
The governor and the traditional ruler made the appeal during the Shehu’s traditional Sallah homage at the Government House in Maiduguri. They emphasized the urgency of the project, especially with the rainy season approaching.
Governor Zulum criticized the sluggish pace of the project and warned that immediate action was necessary to avoid a recurrence of the devastating 2024 flood that impacted Maiduguri and neighboring local government areas.
“After we attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the dam’s reconstruction, the work has not progressed as it should,” Zulum said. “When I last met with the President, I briefed him on the situation and also informed the Vice President. I will keep pushing until we see real progress.”
To provide temporary relief, Zulum directed the Secretary to the State Government to set up a committee for immediate intervention at the dam site.
Earlier this year, the Federal Government approved N80 billion for the project to prevent another collapse of the dam, which previously led to severe flooding and destruction. The groundbreaking ceremony took place in March to mark the official start of the initiative.
Zulum also committed to linking all local government headquarters in Borno State to the national power grid before his tenure ends. He further promised to launch statewide road rehabilitation once the Pulka Quarry plant becomes operational.
“These are top priorities for me,” he said. “We’ve procured 40 new Howo tipper trucks, and once the quarry plant is ready, we will begin major roadworks across the state.”
The governor expressed gratitude to the Shehu and the people of Borno for their support and cooperation with his administration.
In his remarks, the Shehu reaffirmed the importance of the Sallah homage tradition and applauded Zulum’s development achievements. He echoed the need for urgent action on the Alau Dam project, pointing to the September 10, 2024, flooding in Maiduguri as a warning.
“The Federal Government must act immediately. We cannot afford a repeat of that disaster,” the Shehu warned. He also cited the recent flooding in Mokwa as a reminder of the looming threat.
Additionally, the Shehu urged the governor to continue pressing the Federal Government on other critical issues such as oil exploration in Tuba, road projects, and rural electrification.
Governor Zulum also received Sallah homage from delegations representing the University of Maiduguri, Kashim Ibrahim University, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, and the Federal Orthopaedic Hospital, Azare.
