Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, on Wednesday, commended President Bola Tinubu for approving N80 billion for the reconstruction and upgrade of Alau Dam.
Alau Dam collapsed on September 10, 2024, triggering a devastating flooding of Maiduguri metropolis and parts of Jere local government areas of Borno State, affecting more than one million people and the destruction of many properties.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, in a statement on Wednesday said Governor Zulum described President Tinubu’s approval as exhilarating.
Zulum expressed gladness by the uncommon expression of leadership and good governance by President Tinubu over the approval of what he called ‘monumental amount’ to reconstruct and upgrade the dam.
“I regard this decision to reconstruct the dam as the most gladdening tiding, not only for the millions of farmers and fishermen and the innumerable other people conducting various economic activities in and around the dam, but to the state government that is striving to resuscitate and reposition agricultural production as the most critical economic activity for the rebuilding and stabilisation of our society devastated by Boko Haram insurgency,” Governor Zulu reiterated.
The governor expressed confidence that the reconstruction of the dam will effectively forestall the occurrence of flooding that may aggravate the vulnerability of a population devastated by insurgency.
He described the decision as the President’s expression of irrevocable commitment to rebirthing Nigeria for rapid prosperity in all aspects of its life according to the emerging imperatives with the Renewed Hope Agenda as potent tool.
Zulum recalled the president’s personal sympathy visit to Maiduguri during the disaster and the quantum of support via food and non-food items provided, which greatly alleviated the suffering of the affected victims.
He conveyed the heartfelt gratitude of the government and entire people of Borno State for the rare show of carrying all sections of the country along in terms of the distribution of critical projects and programmes.
The governor further assured the president of the continued support of the state and its people for his people-oriented and national development policies, programmes as well as projects to renew the hope of Nigerians for rapid growth and sustainable prosperity.
