The Federal Government, on Wednesday, refuted claims that the Dadin Kowa Dam is in poor condition and at risk of collapse.
These concerns were initially raised by the Managing Director of the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, Abubakar Sadiq, during an address in Niger State. He had alarmed the public about the dam’s potential failure.
However, in response to these media reports, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engineer Joseph Utsev, assured the public that the claims are baseless.
Leading a delegation on an assessment of the dam, Utsev confirmed that there is no cause for concern. He emphasized that the dam is fully operational, fulfilling its intended purposes of electricity generation, irrigation, and water supply to the people of Gombe State.
“Our attention has been drawn to a publication regarding the Dadin Kowa Dam here in Gombe State, suggesting it is on the verge of collapse due to flooding. We are here today to assess the status of this dam and provide a report to Nigerians,” Utsev stated.
He clarified that what some perceived as flooding was simply a natural phenomenon, where water flows from the spillway, not a sign of structural failure.
Urging the public to disregard these false claims, the Minister added, “We want to assure Nigerians that the reservoir is functioning normally, and the spillway and mechanical components are in good condition. There is no cause for alarm.”
Echoing this sentiment, Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello Goronyo, cautioned against non-professionals making uninformed statements on technical matters.
“People who are not knowledgeable in this area, who don’t understand the hydrology of a dam, should refrain from speaking to the media on water-related issues,” Goronyo advised.
