Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has assured residents of Maiduguri that there is no immediate threat from the rising water level at the Alau Dam, despite recent heavy rains.
Following days of downpour, many residents in flood-prone parts of the city had begun to worry about possible flooding. But during a visit to the Alau Dam site near Maiduguri, Governor Zulum moved to ease those concerns.
“I understand the fear, and it’s valid,” he said. “But for now, based on the expert advice we’ve received, there’s no reason to panic.”
The governor revealed that engineers had created new channels to reduce the pressure on the dam, leading to a drop in water level by about four inches. He added that the situation was being monitored closely, and more improvements were expected.
“That said, no one can predict the weather perfectly. We’re staying alert, and the contractors are doing well,” Zulum added.
He used the visit to also advise residents to stop building houses on waterways and to keep drainage channels clear. “This is serious. If you have a drainage in front of your house, it’s your duty to keep it clean,” he warned.
Zulum said the state government plans to revisit Maiduguri’s city master plan, especially to fix problems caused by poor building practices and blocked waterways. “We’ll have to make some tough decisions to protect everyone, even if they’re not popular,” he said.
On concerns about delays at the dam site, he explained that technical procedures had caused some slowdowns, but assured the public that work was now fully underway.
Governor Zulum’s message was clear: while the situation is under control for now, everyone must play their part to prevent future disasters.
