The Speaker of the Borno State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abdulkarim Lawan, along with other lawmakers, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting immediate approval for the reconstruction and expansion of the Alau Dam.
The dam, which serves as the primary source of drinking water and commercial water supply for residents of Maiduguri Metropolis, collapsed on 10 September 2024, leading to massive flooding that devastated several parts of the city. The disaster resulted in an unspecified number of deaths and submerged critical infrastructure worth billions of naira.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday on behalf of the state lawmakers, Speaker Lawan congratulated the government and people of Borno State on the federal government’s intervention.
He highlighted that the approval granted during the Federal Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, 4 February 2025, chaired by President Bola Tinubu, was a welcome development. He noted that the sum of N80 billion allocated for the reconstruction of the Alau Dam underscores the socio-economic importance of the project.
“On behalf of my humble self and the entire lawmakers, as well as all staff of the Borno State House of Assembly, we really appreciate Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Bola Tinubu, for his approval to the tune of N80 billion to reconstruct and expand the Alau Dam,” Lawan stated.
He further extended gratitude to the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, and all individuals and organisations that have provided support to flood victims and other disaster-affected persons.
“At a point, resilient people in the state, especially those directly or indirectly affected by the flood, began to express worry as the next rainy season approaches. But with this intervention by Mr. President to revive the dam, it has renewed hope for the hopeless in society,” the Speaker stressed.
Lawan called on all residents of Borno to continue praying for peace and to support the APC-led government, which remains committed to addressing the plight of every Nigerian.
