The North East Development Commission conducted a physical inspection on Sunday to assess the damage caused by recent flooding to the Alau Dam and other ongoing infrastructure projects in Maiduguri, Borno State.
The inspection, led by the Commission’s Governing Board and Management Council, also included supervision of key road projects in the region.
These projects include the 22.5 km Ngowom-Koshebe and Ngowom-Dusman-Zabarmari-Gongulong-Khaddarmari roads, as well as the 10.5 km (Galameri) Ngowom-Koshebe, 3.5 km Ngowom-Dusman, and the 8.5 km Gongulon-Zabarmari-Khaddamari roads.
The roads are expected to improve security, enhance economic activities, and facilitate the movement of goods and residents in the “Jere-Bowl” area of the state.
Following the inspection, NEDC Managing Director Mohammed Goni expressed the Commission’s determination to continue the projects despite setbacks caused by the flooding.
“We have visited the Alau Dam and the Jere-Bowl roads multiple times. The Commission is committed to ensuring the completion of these projects despite the challenges posed by the flood,” Goni said.
He acknowledged that the flooding had affected the terms and timelines of the contracts, and the Commission would need to assess how to move forward, whether to continue the current work or modify the plans to address the flood damage.
CEO of Ankabut Engineering Limited, Kamsulin Alhaji Bukar, the firm responsible for the dam’s rehabilitation, highlighted the need for a project review.
The original N1.2 billion contract awarded before the flooding was no longer feasible due to the extent of the damage.
“The contract was awarded just before the flood disaster hit, and now the dam has suffered further damage,” Bukar explained.
He noted that the flooding had created a new water channel adjacent to the spillway, which posed a significant challenge to the rehabilitation work.
“We need to re-evaluate the project and determine if we will proceed with the existing plan or modify the scope to address the new issues,” he added.
The NEDC is expected to conduct a comprehensive review of the situation before deciding on the next steps for the rehabilitation of the Alau Dam and surrounding infrastructure projects.
