By Muhammad Amaan
The Federal Government of Nigeria has inaugurated an Inter-ministerial Technical Committee on Dam Evaluations to address the growing concerns about dam safety across the country.
The committee, approved by President Bola Tinubu, was inaugurated on Wednesday in Abuja.
It will assess the physical condition of dams nationwide and examine their impact on local communities.
The members of the committee are: Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Wale Edun, Minister of Information and National Orientation; Mohammed Idris, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
Others are, Minister of Works; Dave Umahi, National Security Adviser; Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Musa Dangiwa.
At the inaugural meeting, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, stressed the timeliness of the situation, following the flood disaster that devastated parts of Maiduguri and its surroundings.
According to him, the government aims to prevent future tragedies by evaluating the state of dams and mitigating risks to the environment and people.
He said the committee’s tasks included providing a comprehensive evaluation of dams, proposing interventions and ensuring that communities affected by dams were protected from potential hazards.
Prof. Utsev referenced the Federal Executive Council meeting held on September 23, during which the recent tragedy in Maiduguri and its surrounding areas was critically reviewed.
“As a result of the disaster, a new Disaster Relief Fund has been proposed to provide immediate assistance to victims without delay.
“To further support the government’s efforts, the president approved the establishment of the Inter-ministerial Technical Committee on Dam Evaluations.
“The committee will assess the physical condition of dams, evaluate their social and environmental impacts, and develop strategies to mitigate risks,” he said.
He added that committee members had been given a comprehensive list of dams in the country, along with a draft framework for their report.
The minister also mentioned that the ministry’s plan to create a Project Delivery Unit, which would offer ongoing technical support throughout the evaluation process.
He added that the committee was expected to submit a detailed report, outlining the necessary interventions to protect the nation’s infrastructure and prevent future disasters.
