Kamsulin Alhaji Bukar, the Chief Executive Officer of Ankabut Engineering Limited, has expressed concerns that the initial allocation of N1.2 billion for the renovation of Alau Dam is no longer adequate. This is primarily due to the extensive damage caused by recent flooding in the area.
Bukar explained, “The contract was awarded at N1.2 billion, and it was only after the contractors mobilized to the site that the flood disaster occurred.” He emphasized that work on the dam had not yet begun when the disaster struck, complicating the situation.
He elaborated on the issue, saying, “The dam has suffered more damage than before. Initially, the focus was on the spillway, but now we’ve encountered a new water channel right next to it, which poses a significant problem.”
On Sunday, representatives from the North East Development Commission (NEDC) visited the Alau Dam and several ongoing projects in Maiduguri, Borno State, to evaluate the impact of the floods. The inspection also included critical road projects such as the 22.5 km Ngowom-Koshebe and Ngowom-Dusman-Zabarmari-Gongulong-Khaddarmari roads, among others.
Muhammed Goni, Managing Director of the NEDC, reaffirmed the organization’s dedication to completing these projects despite the challenges posed by the flooding. “We are committed to ensuring the successful completion of ongoing projects to boost economic activities, improve security, and facilitate the movement of goods and people in the Jere-Bowl region of the state,” he stated.
Goni noted that the NEDC has visited the Alau Dam site several times to monitor the situation. He mentioned, “We are here to assess the extent of the flooding’s impact on our projects.”
He further explained, “Every contract has specific terms and conditions. Unfortunately, in this case, various factors have affected the contracts. Our goal today is to evaluate the damage caused by the flooding and determine the best way to move forward with construction.”
Bukar also pointed out the need for a prompt reassessment to decide if the current contracts should continue as planned or require adjustments. “As he mentioned, we need to conduct a swift review to ascertain whether to proceed with the existing contracts or make necessary modifications,” he concluded.
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