By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum announced on Saturday the allocation of N20 billion for the reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by the flood disaster on September 10, as well as for assistance to the victims.
The flood primarily affected parts of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and surrounding local government areas.
Governor Zulum made the announcement during a meeting in the Council Chamber of the Government House while inaugurating a committee tasked with determining the cause of the Alau Dam’s collapse.
“Fifty percent of the fund, amounting to N10 billion, will be allocated for direct assistance to flood victims to help them rebuild their lives,” a statement signed by the Governor’s Senior Special Assistant on New Media indicated.
The governor directed that the N10 billion be deposited into the state’s relief account, managed by a disbursement committee that includes representatives from the EFCC, ICPC, and security agencies.
The remaining N10 billion was allocated to the state’s Ministry of Works and Housing.
Zulum expressed gratitude to the federal government for its continued support during the flood disaster. “I want to commend the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for its support, particularly the significant amount of food donated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture,” he said.
The governor also acknowledged the contributions of individuals, state governments, corporate entities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have supported Borno during this challenging time. “I want to thank everyone who has contributed to our basket fund,” he added.
Additionally, Governor Zulum instructed the newly constituted committee to determine the cause of the Alau Dam’s collapse to submit its report to the state government within four weeks.
The 28-member committee, chaired by Engr. Abba Garba, a former Managing Director of the Chad Basin Development Authority, was inaugurated on Saturday in Maiduguri.
Zulum emphasized the need for urgent action regarding the dam’s continuous flow, which poses an economic threat to the state and to residents who rely on the dam’s resources for domestic use and dry-season farming.
He directed the committee to conduct a preliminary assessment of the dam to identify the immediate and underlying causes of the 2024 Alau Dam collapse, evaluate its structural integrity, assess the extent of damage, and recommend necessary remedial actions to prevent further outflow. The governor also stressed the importance of making useful recommendations to avert future occurrences.
“The committee has four weeks from the date of inauguration to submit its report to the Executive Governor of Borno State,” he stated.
In response, the committee’s chairman expressed gratitude to Governor Zulum for the opportunity to serve the state. “We are all aware of the gravity of the problem, and I assure you that we will diligently address the terms of reference and provide our recommendations within the stipulated time,” he said.
