By Temitope Mustapha, Abuja
The Federal Executive Council has set up a committee to evaluate and review the integrity of Alau-Dam and other dams across Nigeria and develop detailed designs and recommendations for the overall reconstruction of the dam for future use.
This is due to the flood disaster witnessed in Maiduguri, Borno State Capital and other parts of the Country.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Terleum Utsev, made this known on Monday while briefing the State House Correspondent after the Council meeting presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the Council Chamber of the State House, Abuja.
The Minister disclosed that the Council extensively deliberated on the flood situation across the country with emphasis on Maiduguri flooding.
He recalled that in the year 2022, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation had requested increased allocation from the National Assembly and support from the government of Borno State to address the bad component of the Alau Dam to enable the rehabilitation and specific repair of the 38-year-old dam.
Also Read: Borno State Flood: Nigerian Government deploys team to mitigate aftermath
According to Engineer Utsev, “In 2022, there was a problem with one of the components of the dam the Minister of Water Resources wrote to the National Assembly for allocation of more funds and the government of Maiduguri for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the 38years to further facilitate water supply, purposes of irrigation and flood controls.
“We are now re-accessing the true integrity of the dam to come up with a detailed design for overall reconstruction. We also had a discussion with the management of LAGDO Dam on the release of 100cubic meters of water that can be released within seven days and the Ministry sent a warning to those living along the river valley areas,” he added
The Minister also made known that Nigeria joined the rest of the World in commemorating World Rivers Day, usually celebrated on the 22nd of September.
Members of the constituted committee on the review of Alau dam and others are the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Security, Abubakar Kyari and a few others.
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