Alau Dam Disaster: A Call To Demand Accountability From Government

Residents of the North-eastern state of Borno are facing a humanitarian crisis resulting from the collapse of the Alau Dam, which had been at full capacity for a week. The severe flood affected Maiduguri, Damask, Bagga and other local government areas of the state, submerging large portions of areas and displacing thousands.

Some media reports indicate that this situation has left thousands displaced and searching for higher ground. Heavy rainfall across the state has worsened the flooding in Biu, Chibok, Konduga, Bama, Dikwa, and Jere Local Government Areas.

Although floodwaters have begun to recede in some areas, the need for immediate relief remains critical as this is catastrophic, and the worst of such flooding in the northeastern city of Maiduguri in 30 years

This is not the first time the Alau Dam has collapsed and caused devastation. In 1994, heavy rains caused Alau to break, inundating Maiduguri and its surrounding areas. In 2012, the dam broke and flooded communities nearby. 

The number of those affected in 1994 remains unclear, while a government report said multiple flood events across several states in 2012 killed 363 people and displaced 3.8 million.

It is certain that the dam has not been maintained even though funds have been allocated for its maintenance over the years.

According to Foundation for Investigative Journalism, each administration — from Goodluck Jonathan to Muhammadu Buhari and now Bola Ahmed Tinubu — has allocated fresh funds to different rehabilitation exercises on the dam annually. The highest allocations were made under Buhari’s government with N285 million in 2020 and N200 million in 2023.

Over the years, however, it has been unclear if the allocations to the dam were disbursed to the implementing agency or effectively used. For instance, the 2012 budget implementation report noted a 70.59% performance rate but did not specify if the funds were disbursed for the dam’s survey and desilting or otherwise.

A Call To Demand Accountability From Government

The current humanitarian crisis in Borno State is a result of a lack of good governance and a demand for accountability by citizens in the state and Nigeria at large.

One keeps wondering what could have been responsible for the misappropriation of funds allocated for specific important projects such as the Alau Dam maintenance and other projects of such importance and magnitude in Nigeria.

To avoid scenarios like the current happenings in Borno State, there must be accountability at various levels of government and all governments should prioritize it.

This is an opportunity to demand accountability from the government, starting from the grassroots up to the federal level in Nigeria using different platforms to demand effective service delivery by the government. One of such platform is the Open LGA platform where communities at the grassroots can request, report or track projects within their communities, states and regions respectively.

Our prayers are with the people of Borno State, as we call for a demand for accountability by government and public servants in Nigeria.

Photo Credit: Zachariah Yohanna Musa