President Bola Tinubu’s announcement of a disaster relief fund to assist victims of flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, is a commendable step, yet it underscores the need for a deeper investigation into the misuse of funds allocated for rehabilitation of Alau Dam.
Development Diaries reports that President Tinubu visited the state to sympathise with the government and people over the recent flooding from Alau Dam.
Beyond the president’s visit, he needs to do more.
While the presidency has attributed the Maiduguri flooding to climate change, revelations by experts and public affairs analysts have shown that the defects in Alau Dam in Maiduguri, which were discovered over nine years ago, are reportedly responsible for the overflow of the dam, resulting in the recent massive flood in the state.
According to a Daily Trust report, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources had budgeted over N432,000,000 for the rehabilitation of the dam between 2020 and 2024.
Also, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR) has reported that the Nigerian government paid six contractors a total of N231.07 million between 2018 and 2024 for the Alau Dam renovation and maintenance.
This is an indication that there is a need for accountability for funds that have been allocated to rehabilitate the dam and forestall this disaster.
Also, there is the issue of lack of accountability for ecological funds disbursed to states to prevent disasters such as this.
It is quite unfortunate that the dam, which was identified as defective over nine years ago, has yet to receive the necessary repairs, despite a budget allocation of over N432 million.
This oversight has contributed to the recent disaster, raising serious questions about the handling of public funds meant to prevent such calamities.
Failure to address the dam’s defects, despite the allocated funds, would further widen the trust gap between citizens and the government, and this should not be allowed to happen.
If no action is taken to hold those responsible accountable, this could further deepen the perception that government funds are misused, thereby eroding public trust in government institutions.
In light of these, beyond President Tinubu’s visit to Maiduguri, he needs to establish an investigative panel to scrutinise the use of funds allocated for the rehabilitation of the Alau Dam.
An investigative panel would provide clarity on how these funds were disbursed and whether key players responsible for the rehabilitation of the Alau Dam have fulfilled their obligations.
Holding individuals and agencies accountable will send a strong message against negligence, ensuring that public funds are used effectively to protect citizens from environmental disasters.
Additionally, Development Diaries calls on President Tinubu to demand greater accountability from state governments regarding their use of ecological funds, which are specifically allocated to address environmental challenges.
Photo source: Presidency Nigeria
