Senator Ali Ndume
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
Amidst looming flood fears, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume (APC Borno South) has called on the Federal Government, particularly the Ministry of Water Resources, to speed up the reconstruction of the collapsed Alau Dam in Borno State.
NATIONAL ACCORD reports that the dam’s failure on September 10, 2024, caused devastating flooding in Maiduguri and surrounding areas, resulting in loss of lives and property worth billions of naira.
Despite the Federal Government’s approval of N80 billion for the dam’s reconstruction and expansion, with a groundbreaking ceremony held in March 2025, progress on the project has been slow. Governor Babagana Zulum has also expressed concern over the pace of work, warning that the rainy season has already begun.
Ndume emphasized the need for urgent action to mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters, particularly anticipated floods in Borno and other states, based on predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA). *“We cannot afford to wait and see another disaster unfold,”* he said, urging the Federal Government to live up to expectations.
The senator’s call comes amidst growing concerns over the potential for repeat flooding in the region, which could lead to further loss of lives and property. “The reconstruction of the Alau Dam is crucial to preventing another disaster,” Ndume stressed.
His words: “As we prepare for the 2025 rainy season, let me call on the federal government especially the federal ministry of Water Resources to expedite action and complete the reconstruction process of the collapsed Alau Dam which stretches in between Konduga and Jere local government areas of Borno state.
“It is gratifying that the Federal Government has approved N80 billion for the dam’s reconstruction and expansion, with a groundbreaking ceremony held in March 2025 to mark the commencement of the project, but it is unfortunate that the progress of work is at slow pace.
“I understand that even His Excellency, Governor Babagana Zulum while responding to a request by the Shehu of Borno, Dr. Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, on the need to fast tract the project, during the traditional Sallah homage at the Government House in Maiduguri, expressed concern over the slow pace of the work, warning that the rainy season has already begun.
” I want to add my voice, and reiterated the need for the federal government to live up to expectation, to mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters, particularly anticipated floods in Borno and other states, based on the 2025 predictions from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
“This is very important so as to avoid repeat of what befell some communities in Borno, where many lives were lost and property worth billions of naira destroyed due to the collapse of the dykes of Alau Dam last year”. Ndume said.
