The federal government has announced plans to complete the N80 billion upgrade of the Alau Dam in Borno State by 2027, aiming to boost irrigation and enable future hydro-electric power generation. Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, revealed this during a recent inspection of the project site in the Alau community near Maiduguri.
Originally built in the 1980s primarily to supply drinking water to Maiduguri and surrounding areas, the dam has suffered deterioration due to years of neglect and increasing climate pressures. Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the dam is now being reconstructed and redesigned to serve multiple purposes.
“The President approved N80 billion for the dam’s reconstruction and upgrade,” Utsev said. “Borno State is an agricultural hub, so irrigation is a key part of the project to ensure adequate food production.”
The minister explained that the project is divided into two phases: the first, focused on flood mitigation during the current rainy season, is expected to finish by September 2025. The second phase, starting in October 2025, will run through to March 2027 when the dam will be fully reconstructed.
Once completed, the Alau Dam will provide improved water supply, support agricultural irrigation, and offer capacity for hydro-electric power generation, contributing to national food security and energy goals.
Utsev praised President Tinubu and Borno Governor Babagana Zulum for their commitment to the project’s importance to both the state and the country. He also called on local farmers to avoid planting crops near the dam’s embankment during reconstruction and reassured residents there was no cause for concern about flooding risks.
Built on the Ngadda River, the Alau Dam remains critical to the region’s water management, flood control, and agricultural development. The ongoing upgrade reflects a broader national effort to modernise infrastructure and bolster resilience against climate challenges.
