President Bola Tinubu has approved N80 billion for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Alau Dam in Borno State.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev, made the disclosure after the second Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Tinubu, at the State House, Abuja.
Utsev said the Borno State government is partnering with the Federal government to kick start the project to be carried out within the next 24 months.
He added that the first component of the rehabilitation of the dam will be established between February and July 2025.
He explained that the essence is to ensure that flooding does not occur in Borno State this year.
“I gave a report on the committee constituted on the 23rd September 2024 on the evaluation of dams in Nigeria, the committee was inaugurated on the 2nd of October 2024.
“President gave approval of N80 billion for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Alau dam in Borno State and this is awaiting ratification of FEC while other due processes are being observed.
“The Borno State government is working together to kick start the project between now and July 2025. The first component will be established to ensure flooding does not occur in Borno State in 2025,the project is to be carried out within the next 24months.”
Utsev earlier disclosed that the committee accessed 35 dams after its inauguration and considered the Alau dam as most critical and most immediate for reconstruction and rehabilitation.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the setting up of a committee to re-assess the integrity of the Alau Dam and other dams across the country.
The committee is led by the Minister of Environment and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev. Other are the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; the Minister of Works, David Umahi; the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa; the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal; the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu.