An Impact Assessment of the Alau Water Dam's Collapse on Affected Communities in Maiduguri, Borno State, North-East, Nigeria

Abstract

Flooding has become a major global concern due to its severe impacts on lives, economies and livelihoods. In a bid to control flooding in Maiduguri and its environs, the Alau Water Dam was constructed to regulate water flow from the Ngadda River, a seasonal tributary in the region. The dam also support irrigation farming in the fertile Jere Bowl and provide potable water for the rapidly growing urban population of Maiduguri. This study examines the collapse of the Alau Water dam and the resulting humanitarian impacts using the Disaster Risk Reduction and Vulnerability Theory propounded by Ben Wisner, Piers Blaikie, Terry Cannon, and Ian Davis in 1994. The study adopted a descriptive qualitative research design in which data were gathered from secondary sources. Findings reveal that the dam's collapse was caused by lack of political will exemplified by institutional neglect, poor maintenance, and lack of disaster preparedness worsened by intense rainfall. This resulted in widespread flooding, displacement, infrastructure damage, and increased health and food insecurity. The study concludes that inadequate disaster preparedness intensified the humanitarian impact. It recommends strengthening dam management, improving early-warning systems, and developing integrated emergency response mechanisms, among other measures, to enhance resilience.