Minister of state in the ministry of water resources and sanitation, Bello Goronyo, has stressed the need to repair the collapsed Alau Dam in Jere local government area of Borno State due to its strategic importance to the state and the nation.
The dam which is about 20 kilometers from Maiduguri collapsed as a result of a devastating flood that caused an overload of water from upstream leading to structural corrosion and eventual collapse.
Goronyo said restoration of the dam would enhance completion of various water projects and expand irrigable land for food production within the Chad Basin Authority.
He said the process was to align with the nation’s food security goals in line with the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The minister in a statement after an inspection of the site called for collaboration with the Borno State government to fast track the repair
He said the inspection was aimed at assessing the extent of damage and exploring strategies for its restoration, recognising its vital economic importance.
He thanked Governor Babagana Zulum for his unwavering dedication to address challenges in water and sanitation faced by the residents of the state.
The managing director, Chad River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Abba Garba, said the Alau Dam had a reservoir capacity of 112 million cubic meters of water, adding that it was originally intended to provide irrigation farmland for Jere residents, but due to increased demand, it later expanded its supply scope to Maiduguri, the state capital.
Garba disclosed that procurement processes to assess the impact as well as rehabilitate the dam are currently ongoing.
The delegation also visited the Chad Basin Development Authority Songhai farms, which has sections for poultry, catfish, cattle, and greenhouses for tomato and sunflower cultivation.
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