October 13, (THEWILL) – The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has conducted physical inspection on the extent of damages caused by the recent flooding on the Alau Dam and other ongoing projects in Maiduguri, Borno state.
The inspection exercise, conducted by members of the Commission’s governing board and Management Council, include the supervision of the 22.5 Km Ngowom/Koshebe and Ngowom/Dusman/Zabarmari/Gongulong/Khaddarmari Roads, 10.5 Km (Galameri) Ngowom/Koshebe, 3.5 Km Ngowom/Dusman, and
8.5Km,Gongulon-Zabarmari/ Khaddamari.
Speaking shortly after the inspection in Maiduguri, Muhammed Goni, the Managing Director of the Commission, noted that the damage done by the recent flooding was unimaginable and unquantifiable.
Alkali said despite the setbacks caused by the flooding, the commission is determined to ensure the completion of the ongoing projects, to stimulate economic activities, enhance security, and facilitate free movement of goods and people in the popular Jere-Bowl road of the state.
“We have been here (Alau dam) about two or three times, as well as the Jere-Bowl road. That means, the commission is under very serious contractual transactions of the road and rehabilitation of this spill way.
“You know each contract carries some terms and reference, but unfortunately in this occasion, we have some factors which affected the contracts. We are here today to asses what has happened after the flooding and see how it affects the general construction of the projects to device a way forward to continue the contracts as it is or modify it.
Responding, Kamsulin Alhaji Bukar, the CEO of Ankabut Engineering limited, the firm in charge of the dam’s rehabilitation work, said the initial contract award of N1.2 billion budgeted before the flooding is no longer sustainable as a result of the increased damages caused by the flood.
“Then work has not yet started before the flood came. As you have heard him say, that we should do a quick review to know whether we are to continue on previous contracts or there will be modification.
“The dam is damaged more than before. Before, the concern was in spill way, but now, just adjacent to it, we have a new channel of water. That is the major problem and it’s just by the side.
“Definitely you cannot start to do something here while you have a new opening just by the side. So definitely this has to be on hold until comprehensively we check everything to know if to continue with this or add the entire problem and then re-scope it”, he stated.
