Floods are increasing in frequency and severity throughout the country and in September 2004, there was a catastrophic flood in Borno State that inundated 70% of Maiduguri metropolis, resulting in 77 fatalities and 300,000 people displaced.
Following the flood, a delegation of the Nigerian Academy of Engineering (NAE), led by the President of the Academy, Prof. R.A. Bello, made a condolence visit to the Governor of Borno State, His Excellency Prof Babagana Umaru Zulum, and the Shehu of Borno, His Royal Highness Abubakar Ibn Umar Gamai El-Kanemi. The NAE delegation made a flood relief donation to the Borno State Government and went round the affected areas of Maiduguri. The delegation also inspected the Alau Dam, which was the source of the flood.
In order to learn lessons from the tragic event, with a view to preventing similar occurrences in the country, NAE established an Ad-Hoc Committee to investigate the causes of the massive release of water from the Alau Dam and to make recommendations on measures to be taken at Alau Dam and across the country to prevent flooding. The report was considered by NAE, after which a Public Forum was held on 21st May 2025 on “Dam Infrastructure and Flood Risk Management.”
At the Public Forum, Prof J.O. Aribisala, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences Iyin-Ekiti, who was the Chairman of the Ad-Hoc Committee set up by NAE following the flood in Borno State, made a presentation on Lessons Learned on the Alau Dam Flood. Prof. Emmanuel Adanu, a former Director General of the National Water Resources Institute Kaduna, commented on the presentation and gave a brief on the progress made on Dam Management in the country. Dr Funmi Coker, the Technical Secretary of NAE, gave an overview of the environmental and climate change factors that are making the country more prone to floods. Engr (Chief) O.A. Ajibola, a past president of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and co-founder of Intercon Partnership, a leading engineering consultancy with infrastructure expertise, gave a presentation on, “Flood Resilient Infrastructure.”
On the Borno State flood, it was reported that the water storage capacity of the Alau Dam, from which the water release emanated, was reduced due to a buildup of silt and there was inadequate monitoring of water inflow into the dam from the Ngadda and Yedseram rivers, which are tributaries of Lake Chad. It was also observed that the purpose of the dam was changed from irrigation to water supply. Adequate provisions for the change had not been put in place and there was continued informal use of it for irrigation. Heavy rainfall and flash flooding, as a result of climate change, was also identified as a factor. It was recommended that there be regular desilting of the dam, that it be converted to a multi-purpose dam (both water supply and irrigation) and that there be regular monitoring and effective management.
It was noted that management systems are in place for many of the dams in the country, but they should be made more robust in the face of the severe climate change impacts that the country is experiencing. Emphasis should be placed on the following:
- Daily inflow data collection
- Periodic removal of sediment
- Bathymetric surveys
- High quality reservoir management policies and practices
- Adequate systems for urban drainage and mitigation of flood effects
- Robust dam infrastructure.
Dams are used for hydroelectric power, water supply and irrigation. They also play an important role in flood prevention. However, if they are not well managed, they can produce devastating floods.
Nigeria is severely impacted by climate change, has a high population growth rate and there has been heavy deforestation. These factors increase vulnerability to flooding. Dams, as well as all other infrastructure, should be upgraded to increase resilience. There must also be high quality “soft infrastructure” including maintenance systems, regulatory standards, capacity building, etc. Local Content is of critical importance for all infrastructure. The participation of Nigerian engineers and technicians and Nigerian organisations in all infrastructure projects is essential for capacity building and for the retention of the data and technical documents connected with them in the country. It makes it easier and cheaper to operate, monitor, maintain, repair and upgrade the facilities and to modify them for changing conditions.
Nigeria has a high infrastructure deficit and climate change greatly increases the infrastructure requirements for water management and reducing vulnerability to floods as well as for combatting drought and coastal and inland erosion. The funding requirements exceed what the Federal and State governments can provide. At COP29 held in Azerbaijan in November 2024, it was agreed that developed countries should provide $300 billion per annum of finance to developing countries for building resilience against climate disasters. Nigeria should endeavour to source some of these funds for essential infrastructure projects.
.
The Nigerian Academy of Engineering is the apex engineering body in Nigeria. It focuses on the advancement and pursuit of excellence in Technology and Engineering,and provides a national platform for experts to pool their expertise for advocacy on public and private technical policy.
