Sokoto Residents Worry over Imminent Dam Collapse

As fears of another round of flood disaster predicted to occur in some major parts of the country continue to envelope the country, the residents of Goronyo Ĺocal Government Area of Sokoto State have called on the state government to look into the dilapidated state of the dam, located in Yan-Rimawa of the area.

A resident of the area, Bello Muhammad who hails from Takakume  village, one of the villages adjoining the location of the dam told Arewa PUNCH that the government needs to come to the aid of the residents immediately because of the near collapse state of the dam.

Mohammed, while expressing deep apprehension  over the deplorable and near-collapse state of the dam, stressed that “if allowed to collapse, it will cause a major calamity not just in the local government but also the entire state.”

As a result, he appealed to the government to do the needful considering the recent flooding disaster experienced in Maiduguri town only last Tuesday.

Nasiru Aliyu from Kagara community in Goronyo Local Government Area in his comment also appealed to “both the federal and Sokoto governments to act fast and ensure that the Dam is not affected in anyway in the interest of safety of lives and properties of the people in the area.”

Also speaking, Abubakar Nura, from the Kojiyo community, said the Dam should be given utmost attention considering the recent disaster in Maiduguri.

“I think our governments at all levels should learn how to take corrections, act fast, and also take cue from past events. We’re still mourning the Borno flood disaster, yet there’s another staring us right in our eyes.

“Look at the threat that this Gorornyo Dam has become. Look at this Dam here in Gorornyo. We should not be talking about solutions after problem. It is safer, cheaper, and better we do something now before things get out of hand,” Nura lamented.

Meanwhile, efforts to speak with some staff and management of the Sokoto River Rima Basin Development Authority were not successful as no official of the agency was ready to talk to our correspondent over the issue.

Efforts to also speak with the Managing Director of the Agency, Buhari Nature, was not also successful as he neither picked voice calls initiated to his phone nor responded to a text message sent to him as at the time of filling this report.

Source: Punch