Borno, Northeast Nigeria — Learning from a tragic past, residents of Alau and Maiduguri in Borno State have raised the alarm over living in uncertainty, fuelled by fears of a repeat of the September 2024 flood disaster that rendered thousands homeless, turned children into orphans, wives into widows, and left businesses and farmlands devastated by environmental degradation — a tragedy many believe was avoidable.
Recall that in September 2024, a disaster happened in the Nigerian northeast, where more than one hundred and fifty people lost their lives after the collapse of Alau Dam, affecting part of Borno State, with Jere and Maiduguri local governments suffering more, with an estimate of about 70% of Maiduguri residents displaced, per official reports of the country’s Emergency Management Agency.
Following the incident and its negative impacts, the Nigerian government approved N80 billion for the reconstruction of the dam. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, flagged off the project on March 1, 2025, promising immediate intervention.
However, Daily Episode gathered from the Daily Trust report “Alau Dam disaster: 8 months after, reconstruction work yet to begin” that two months into the scheduled start, no visible work has begun at the site.
What could have been done to save more lives is now left in neglect — accumulating to the growing number of abandoned projects in the country, where citizens are left to bear the consequences, with no choice but to survive or die from the impact.”
Resident in Danger
In an interview with the residents of the affected areas where inaction will victimise them, they shared their concern. In an interview with Daily Trust, Hajara Lawan disclosed that “the rains are beginning; they fear another disaster. She said the only equipment brought to the site — two cranes and a container — was later removed. “We alerted them before the last flood, but nothing was done.”.
Like Hajra, a village head of Alau, Bulama Kadai, who, in tears, shared the frightening forecast, warned that if the contractors did not mobilise to the site and resume the reconstruction, the area could face another devastating flood. He added that the September incident rendered many farmers and fishermen jobless.
Babagana Lawan Kolo, another resident, said some villagers have started relocating. “By the look of things, the federal government is not willing to start the work,” he said.
Beyond the need of sellers, water scarcity looms. In Maiduguri, a number of citizens complain about the cut in supply of water for the dam, where they are expecting a supply of at least 40 per cent of potable water, which is now turning into a goldmine as residents complain of persistent water scarcity.
Governor Babagana Zulum had earlier warned the federal government in December 2024 that there was little time before the next rainy season. He suggested that the North-East Development Commission take over the project to avoid delays.
Despite the urgency, federal agencies declined to comment when contacted, and work remains stalled.
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