The Federal Government has announced that the ongoing ₦80 billion reconstruction and upgrade of the Alau Dam in Borno State will be completed by 2027.
The project is expected to improve irrigation capacity, improve water supply, and pave the way for future hydroelectric power generation.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, disclosed this during a working visit to the dam site in the Alau community near Maiduguri on Thursday.
“Basically, we are here in Borno to assess the level of work on the Alau Dam,” Prof. Utsev said.
He explained that the dam, initially constructed as a drinking water source, is now being redesigned under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to serve multiple purposes.
“With the President’s approval of ₦80 billion for its reconstruction and upgrade, we have redesigned the dam to support multiple purposes.
Borno State is known for farming, and the mandate given to us is to ensure adequate food production. That is why irrigation is a significant upgrade component,” he stated.
According to the minister, the project has been divided into two phases. The first phase, expected to be completed in September this year, focuses on flood prevention ahead of the rainy season.
The second phase will begin in October and will be completed in March 2027, when the dam is fully reconstructed.
When completed, the upgraded Alau Dam will: Supply improved potable water to Maiduguri and surrounding communities, provide irrigation support to boost agricultural productivity, and enable capacity for future hydroelectric power generation.
Prof. Utsev praised President Tinubu and Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum for their commitment to the project and urged local farmers to stop planting crops on the dam’s embankment to avoid construction delays.
He also assured residents there was no cause for alarm over possible flooding from the dam.
Constructed in the 1980s on the Ngadda River, the Alau Dam has long been vital for water supply, small-scale irrigation, and flood control in Borno State. However, years of neglect and climate-related pressures have reduced its capacity and structural integrity.
The ₦80 billion upgrade seeks to restore the dam’s role in regional water management, agriculture, and energy generation, aligning with Nigeria’s broader food security and sustainable development goals.
Source: Nairametrics
Image Credit: Enviro News
