The Federal Government has clarified that the recent devastating flood in Maiduguri was not caused by a dam collapse, as initially speculated. Instead, the flood resulted from the overflow of the Ngadda River, not the failure of the Alau Dam.
Engineer Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, addressed the media on Friday in Abuja to dispel rumors about the Alau Dam’s involvement. He confirmed that the dam, located about 10 kilometers from Maiduguri city center, remains intact.
“We did not anticipate that this year’s water levels would reach such extremes,” Utsev said. “Due to climate change, the rainfall was excessive, and the rivers were unable to contain the surplus water. This led to an overflow from the Ngadda River, a major tributary of the River Yedzaram, which spilled into the Alau Dam and overpowered its dyke.”
The minister emphasized that the Alau Dam itself did not collapse; rather, it was the dam’s dyke that could not handle the overwhelming volume of water from the tributaries.
In light of the Maiduguri flood, Utsev also issued a warning about potential severe flooding in the Niger Delta and other southern states. He urged both the government and residents to activate emergency measures to mitigate the impact.
“The flow levels in rivers Niger and Benue are approaching critical levels, indicating a heightened risk of flooding in the southern regions,” Utsev warned. “We need to enhance our vigilance and take proactive steps to address any forthcoming flood events.”
