The Federal Government has announced plans to reposition dams across the country, News About Nigeria reports.
This was disclosed by the Deputy Director and Geotechnical Divisional Head of Dams Department, Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Abiola Oluwatosin, during an inspection of the Ogwashi-Uku Dam in Aniocha South Local Government Area on Wednesday.
He noted that siltation has significantly reduced the water volume in the Ogwashi-Uku Dam, Delta State.
According to her, the siltation had caused a significant reduction in water volume and that the spillway and dam height would be considered in future actions.
Oluwatosin, who led the Technical Subcommittee of the Presidential Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on the Evaluation of Dams, assured that findings from the assessment would guide a robust action plan to address the challenges affecting dam infrastructure nationwide.
She further noted that the committee includes experts from various federal ministries, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and other technical professionals.
She stated, “President Bola Tinubu constituted this committee following the recent flooding incident in Maiduguri, Borno State. The committee, chaired by the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsav, is tasked with evaluating the integrity of dams across Nigeria.
“The objective is to conduct a comprehensive assessment of dams to determine their structural integrity, assess their impact on downstream communities, and evaluate the environmental and social conditions affecting riparian settlements.”
