Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum has allayed the fear over the rising level of water at Alau Dam, noting that there is no cause of alarm.
There has been widespread fear of flood and anxiety among residents of Maiduguri following the recent downpour.
The governor made this known shortly after inspecting the ongoing reconstruction work at Alau Dam, near Maiduguri.
Zulum said that the widespread panic in Maiduguri was also a serious concern to his administration but insisted that there was no cause for alarm over any possible devastating flood due to overflow from Alau Dam.
He remarked that new channels have been opened up, and the water was running, saying the level of water in Alau Dam has dropped about 4 inches within the last few days, and the volume would continue to drop.
“As at now based on the engineering knowledge we are having, we concluded that there is no cause for alarm,” Zulum stated.
“However, nobody knows what will happen tomorrow, we are working and shall continue to monitor this programme. The contractor is doing a good job.
The governor, however, warned the residents in flood-prone areas from dumping refuse into the drainage systems in front of their houses and those who were in the habit of building on water ways to desist from doing so.
“Most importantly, I want to warn the people of this state to desist from building on water ways, and they should be very careful” he said.
The governor urged the residents to be law abiding, saying ” if you have drainage in front of your house, you have to make sure you clean it all the time.”
On reviewing the master plan, Zulum said that his administration was going to look at the whole master plan and see where distortions were being made with a view to rectify all abnormalities.
“But we must go back to the drawing board and then look at the master plan and ensure that all tributaries and all water ways shall be cleared so as to allow inflow of water to the main canal.
“We must enforce certain environmental standards, which is very painful but I believe we have no option,” Zulum said.
On the delay of the reconstruction of Alau Dam, the Governor said that the delay was due to some technical procedures, but assured the public that the contractors had resumed fully.
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for approving N80 billion to execute the ongoing work at Alau Dam.
