The minister of state for water resources and sanitation, Bello Muhammad Goronyo Esq., has conducted an inspection of the collapsed Alau Dam in Jere Local Government Area of Borno State.
During the inspection, which he conducted recently, Goronyo emphasized the need for closer collaboration with the Borno State Government to expedite the completion of various water projects and expand irrigable land for food production within the Chad Basin Development Authority in order to align with the nation’s food security goals, in line with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He also noted that the inspection is aimed at assessing the extent of damage to the dam and exploring strategies for its restoration, recognizing its vital economic importance.
The minister expressed his appreciation for the unwavering dedication of Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, in addressing the water and sanitation challenges faced by the state.
He was accompanied on the visit by senior management staff from the ministry and the managing director of Chad Basin Development Authority, Engr. Abba Garba, and other staff from the agency.
Garba highlighted the significance of the Alau Dam, which has a reservoir capacity of 112 million cubic meters of water. The dam was originally intended to support irrigation for Jere residents, but it later became essential for supplying water to the growing population of Maiduguri due to increased demand.
He explained that the Alau Dam’s purpose has been hampered by its recent collapse, a result of the 2022 devastating flood that caused an overload of water from the upstream, leading to structural corrosion and eventual collapse.
The MD further disclosed that procurement processes to assess the impact and rehabilitate the dam are currently underway.
Goronyo and his delegation also visited the Chad Basin Development Authority Songhai farms, which encompass sections for poultry, catfish, cattle, and greenhouses for tomato and sunflower cultivation, contributing to feed formulation and cholesterol-free oil production.
