Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, on Saturday, announced the allocation of N20 billion to reconstruct the infrastructure damaged by the 10 September flood and assist the victims.
The ravaging flood had affected parts of Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and its surrounding local government areas, leaving thousands displaced.
According to a statement on Saturday, Zulum made the announcement at the Council Chamber of the Government House in Maiduguri while inaugurating the committee to determine the cause of the Alau Dam’s collapse.
According to him, 50 per cent of the fund, which is N10 billion, will be used for direct assistance for the flood victims with a view to providing them with the needed support to pick up with their lives.
The governor directed that the N10bn be credited to the state’s relief account and handled by the disbursement committee, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independet Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission as well as security agencies.
The remaining N10 billion, as directed by the governor, was handed over to the state’s Ministry of Works and Housing.
Zulum expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its tireless support during the flood disaster.
“Let me use this opportunity to commend the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu for all the support, from the quantum of food donated by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture”, he said.
The governor equally appreciated individuals, state governments, corporate entities, and Non Governmental Organisations for supporting Borno in its time of need.
“I want to also commend everyone who has contributed to our basket fund”, the governor said.
Zulum directed the committee constituted to determine the cause of the Alau Dam’s collapse to submit its report to the state government within four weeks.
The governor gave the directive after inaugurating the committee on Saturday in Maiduguri.
The 28-member committee is chaired by Engr Abba Garba, a former Managing Director of the Chad Basin Development Authority.
The governor maintained that even though the flood had receded, the dam continued to flow, posing an economic threat to the state and inhabitants using the dam’s resources for domestic and dry-season farming.
He said urgent steps must be taken to address the continuous outflow of the dam to enable it to serve its primary purpose.
Zulum, therefore, directed the committee to undertake a preliminary assessment of the dam to determine the immediate and remote causes of the 2024 Alau Dam collapse, its structural integrity, the extent of its damage, the remedial action required to forestall the persistence of the dam’s outflow, the cost implications for the immediate remedial action.
The governor charged the committee to make useful recommendations to forestall future occurrences.
He said: “The committee shall have four weeks from the date of inauguration to submit its report to the Executive Governor of Borno State.”
Responding, the chairman of the committee expressed gratitude to Zulum for finding them worthy of serving the state.
He said: “Each of us here is conscious of the gravity of the problem, and I would like to thank you for finding us worthy to serve on this very important committee.
“I assure you that we are going to look into the terms of reference, deliberate on it, and come up with our recommendations within the stipulated time”.
