From HASSAN JIRGI, Maiduguri
Borno State government have denied the rumors that Alau Dam has broken down.
Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, who went around to assess the dam, assured residents that it did not breakdown.
He said Governor Babagana Zulum has sent a high-powered delegation to assess the impact of water overflow at Alau Dam which is threatening Maiduguri Metropolis and environs.
The SSG added that the dam which has a reservoir capacity of 112 million cubic meters was designed to support irrigation activities at Alau river bank that is now used to supply tap water in Maiduguri and Jere.
Alhaji Bukar, who led the delegation, were received by the Acting Managing Director of Chad Basin Development Authority, CBDA, at Alau Dam, Engr Mohammed Zannah on Thursday.
The delegation comprised Engr Baba Bukar Gujibawu, SA to the Governor on Monitoring and Evaluation, Engr Adam Bababe, Executive Secretary, Borno Geographic Information Service, Engr Sadu Auno, Executive Secretary, Borno State Road Maintenance Agency and the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Mohammed Saidu Barkindo.
He said despite the high water level in the river which led to overflow, the present conditions do not pose a severe threat to the city, noting that the necessary measures were put in place to control the situation.
According to him, the state government is working with the Chad Basin Development Authority to take steps to protect Maiduguri from flooding.
“We have been to Alau Dam on behalf of Governor Zulum. We are partnering the managers of Alau Dam. We have discussed and seen what to do, but the rumour of Maiduguri being flooded is not true”, he said.
