Maiduguri Flood: Group Demands Investigation Into Careless Handling Of Alau Dam.

The Northern Christian Youth Professionals have demanded that the Federal and Borno State governments investigate and hold those accountable for Alau Dam’s reckless operation.

The group on Tuesday, in a signed statement by its chairman, Isaac Abrak, while insisting that the commonwealth provided for dam maintenance and climate change initiatives that have now failed the people, noted that the recent flooding in Borno State, caused by the breakdown of the Alau Dam, has resulted in unprecedented devastation, with over 30 lives lost, 23,000 residential houses destroyed, and 414,000 people displaced, critical infrastructure, including bridges, roads

The statement read: “We demand that the Federal and Borno State governments investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the dam’s reckless operation. The Commonwealth’s dam maintenance and climate change initiatives have failed the people.

“While we applaud President Tinubu’s compassionate visit and N3 billion pledge, we question the need for another fund without investigating why existing Ecological Funds (N40 billion, with Borno receiving N800 million) have failed to address climate issues.

“Flooding is an existential issue exacerbated by leadership failures.” Spending money on environmental problems without accountability is inhumane.

“We urge: Investigation and accountability for dam mismanagement; Transparent use of existing funds; Safe housing construction in highland areas; and Logistics support for temporary relocation. “School closures and alternative educational arrangements.”

The group emphasised that “the 2022 Bayelsa flooding serves as a stark reminder. We cannot keep failing the most vulnerable.”