The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to timely reconstruction and upgrade of the Alau Dam.

The minister said this during a working visit to the dam site in Maiduguri, where he led a high-powered delegation from the ministry to inspect ongoing works.

Speaking with journalists during the inspection, Utsev explained that the first phase of the project, targeted at flood mitigation, commenced in March 2025 and is expected to be completed by September 2025. He said the second phase, which focuses on the full-scale upgrade of the dam, will begin in October 2025 and is scheduled for completion by March 2027.

Utsev reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, approved the reconstruction and upgrade of the Alau Dam.

“This intervention is critical, not just to prevent another disaster, but to reposition this dam as a multipurpose facility for drinking water, irrigation, and even hydro-power generation in the near future,” he said.

He recalled the Alau Dam incident of September 2024, which caused severe flooding, loss of lives, the destruction of infrastructure and property worth billions of naira, saying the ongoing reconstruction aims to ensure that such a tragedy does not recur.

During the inspection, the minister visited the main dam gated spillway and cofferdam, where the contractor was filling and reinforcing the structure.

He noted that the water levels remained under control at the time of the visit, reassuring the public that there was no cause for alarm. He revealed that the contractor was executing the work professionally and in line with approved timelines. He directed that necessary adjustments be made to the dam’s gates to allow for controlled water flow, ensuring safety during the rainy season.

The minister urged the Borno State government to intensify public sensitisation, especially among local farmers, to halt agricultural activities along the dam’s embankment, which he noted could compromise the safety and structural integrity of the project.