The Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation Engr Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev has assured the people of Borno State of the commitment of the Federal Government to end flooding in Maiduguri town occasioned by excess water from Alau dam.
Professor Utsev stated this on Thursday when he led the Honourable Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation Barr Bello Goronyo and other top management staff of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation on a sympathy visit to the government and the good people of Borno State over the flooding that wracked havoc in Maiduguri the Borno State capital with thousands of people displaced and houses, farmlands as well as other properties submerged in water.
The Minister explained that a team of experts from his ministry were already in the state to carry out a holistic assessment of Alau dam and ascertain its present status and report back to the government for immediate action.
The Minister who said he was informed of similar incidence from the dam in the past said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not relent until a permanent solution is identified.
He sympathized with the government and the good people of Borno State over the unfortunate incident and assured them of the support of his ministry especially in the areas of provision of sanitary kits and other interventions that will cushion the effect of the disaster.
Professor Utsev,Barr Goronyo and other top management staff of the ministry had earlier paid a sympathy visit to the Governor of Borno State Professor Babagana Zulum during which Professor Utsev promised to work with the Governor to identify the remote and immediate cause of the flooding and provide permanent solution .
He promised to provide necessary assistant in the areas of sanitation kits and water treatment equipment for the displaced persons to prevent them from consuming the flood water which has been conterminated with reptiles.
Responding, the Borno State Governor Professor Zulum who thanked Professor Utsev and his team for identifying with the state over the sad incident, described the flooding as the worst in the history of the state .
He emphasized the need for the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to carry out a comprehensive study of Alau dam and come out with an immediate solution that will end the perennial disaster that often emanates from Alau dam and ensure its full utilisation to boost irrigation farming in the state.
Professor Utsev also visited the Shehu of Borno Alhaji Abubakar Umar Garbai where he equally conveyed his sympathy to the traditional ruler over the flooding that submerged his palace few days ago.
Responding, the Shehu of Borno Alhaji Garbai expressed gratitude to Professor Utsev for leading a high power delegation from his ministry to identify with him over the sad incident and called on the Federal Government to construct more channels at Alau dam and its upgrade to enable it contain the high volume of water that emanates from the upstream to the dam .
Professor Utsev, Barr Goronyo and other management staff of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation later drove in a military truck round the flood ravaged areas in Maiduguri town to ascertain the situation and interacted with victims of the disaster during which he assured them that government was doing everything possible to provide permanent solution to the problem.
