Demand immediate commencement of work on dam
Due to the Federal Government’s delay in the repair of the Alau Dam, which collapsed last year after heavy rainfall, Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF) and Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) have warned of imminent disaster in Maiduguri, Borno State, with the onset of the rains.
  
They, however, demanded immediate commencement of repairs and expansion of the dam, as well as prosecution of contractors that were funded but failed to deliver.
  
The position of the two groups came on the heels of allegations by locals that the much-publicised repair and expansion of the dam by the Federal Government had not commenced even as the rainy season kicked in.
  
According to a statement by Dominion Amupitan of RDI, yesterday, the locals queried the government’s decision to shun Mothercat Nigeria Limited, the original contractor that built the bridge, in favour of another firm that began work on the System 1 and 2 pipeline under the Lagos Street Bridge, only to abandon it after mobilisation for the work.  
  
The dam collapsed on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, submerging 70 per cent of Maiduguri and displacing residents of Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, Bulabulin and other communities.

After the incident, thousands of homes were submerged, including the Shehu of Borno’s palace and government facilities in the capital.
  
While 80 per cent of animals at the Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo died, those in the Museum Park escaped, further endangering hapless residents who have yet to recover fully one year after the incident.
   
Executive Director of CFSF, Sani Saba, said: “Another disaster may be imminent. With the delay in the commencement of the repair work on the dam, we can conclude that the Federal Government is more interested in optics and showmanship when disaster happens than proactive interventions.
  
“Nothing can justify the government’s engagement of a firm that is incapable of delivering but exposing the locals to fresh harm. It is simply unacceptable.”
  
On his part, the Executive Director of RDI, Philip Jakpor, expressed shock at the lacklustre attitude of the government in the face of a possible repeat of the 2024 flooding. 
  
He added: “What we should be hearing by now is the level of progress of the work. By virtue of the delay in commencing the rehabilitation of the dam, lives may be lost, livelihoods affected and the state’s economy put at risk if the rains come with the fury of last year. This will likely worsen the insecurity residents face.”
  
The groups reported that a large population in Borno was still not able to access potable water. Residents of densely-populated areas such as Wulari, Mafoni, Kumshe, Hausari, Shehuri North, Shehuri South and old Maiduguri were reportedly worst hit.