In northeastern Nigeria, villagers near the Alau dam had long warned government officials about the dam's deteriorating condition and the dangerously full reservoir. Despite these warnings, officials reassured the public of the dam's safety. However, in early September, after heavy rainfall, the dam failed, flooding two-thirds of the city of Maiduguri, resulting in up to 1,000 deaths and displacing nearly half a million people.
Following the disaster, government officials attributed the tragedy to divine forces, climate change, and the poor living conditions of residents. However, evidence suggests that authorities were aware of the dam's critical state and failed to address operational issues despite repeated alerts from local residents and engineers.
Eight months prior to the collapse, engineer Mala Gutti warned that the dam was under severe hydraulic pressure and at risk of catastrophic failure. Although officials acknowledged the problem, no significant remedial actions were taken. Reports indicated that budget allocations for repairs went unutilized, leading to criticism of the government's competence.
The disaster has raised alarms about the condition of over 300 other dams in Nigeria that require urgent maintenance, according to local NGOs. Officials from the ministry of water resources acknowledged the need for other areas to learn from the Alau dam incident.
As the floodwaters surged into Maiduguri, many residents remained unaware of the impending danger due to government assurances. Adama Ibrahim, a local tailor, recounted her desperate escape with her son as the water rapidly rose, highlighting the chaos and panic that ensued.
Community members reported that the death toll could be as high as 1,000, although official figures have not been released. The Alau dam, built in 1985, was intended to improve water supply, but local villagers had reported cracks and structural issues for years. Despite their warnings, officials failed to take adequate action.
In interviews, Mr. Gutti emphasized that the agency overseeing the dam repeatedly allowed it to overfill, exacerbating the risk of failure. The acting managing director of the agency admitted to long-standing damage but denied that the reservoir had ever overfilled or that warnings had been ignored.
In the aftermath of the flood, humanitarian agencies warned of impending water and food shortages, as crops that could have fed millions were destroyed. Residents now rely on contaminated boreholes for water, as officials promise rehabilitation of the dam and integrity tests on other structures across the country.
For the displaced residents of Maiduguri, the flooding adds to their struggles, as many are already survivors of violence from the extremist group Boko Haram. Fatima Mala, a survivor, expressed her despair over the situation, noting that their chances of survival have diminished significantly since the flood.