The Federal Government has announced that the ₦80 billion upgrade of the Alau Dam in Borno State is on track for completion by 2027. The project aims to support irrigation, flood control, potable water supply, and future hydroelectric power generation.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, made this known during a site visit, noting that the initiative aligns with the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Project Phases

Phase 1 (Mar–Sep 2025): Focuses on urgent flood mitigation and safety repairs.

Phase 2 (Oct 2025–Mar 2027): Includes full-scale rehabilitation, irrigation expansion, and infrastructure for future power generation.

The dam’s upgrade follows its partial collapse in 2024, which caused severe flooding in Maiduguri and surrounding communities.

Impact

The revamped dam is expected to:

Prevent future floods

Boost agricultural productivity via irrigation

Lay the groundwork for renewable energy development

Utsev urged local residents to cooperate by avoiding farming activities in construction zones, emphasizing the project’s long-term benefits for the region.