The Nigerian Government has said that the ongoing N80 billion Alau Dam upgrade project in Borno State, Northeast Nigeria, is aimed at enhancing irrigation capacity and enabling hydro-electric power generation upon its completion in 2027.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made this known during a working visit to the project site at the Alau community, near Maiduguri.
“Basically, we are here in Borno to see the level of work at the Alau Dam.
Initially, this dam was constructed as a source of drinking water, but with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, he has approved the sum of N80 billion for its reconstruction and upgrade.
Borno State is known for farming and the mandate given to us is to ensure adequate food production, and in line with that, when we were designing the upgrade of this dam, we captured that aspect.
When completed, the Alau Dam will serve as a water supply to Maiduguri and its environs, irrigation, and for future hydro-electric power generation,” the minister said.
According to him, the contract was divided into two phases, with the first phase expected to end in September this year, while the second phase would start in October and end in March 2027.
“The essence of the first phase is to mitigate or prevent flooding for this season, because construction of the dam is not easy during the rainy season.
The second phase is scheduled to commence in October and will conclude in March 2027, when the dam will be fully reconstructed.
He lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Gov. Babagana Zulum for their commitment to the project in view of its importance to the people of Borno and the country in general.
The minister, however, used the opportunity to appeal to the Government and people of Borno to embark on a sensitisation campaign to the local farmers in Alau community to halt planting crops at the embankment of the dam, currently under reconstruction.
He also urged the residents to be calm and entertain no fear over any possible flooding from the overflow of the dam.