The Kaduna State Government has dismissed reports suggesting that the Kangimi Dam in Igabi Local Government Area of the state is at risk of imminent collapse, assuring residents that the dam is intact, functional and safe.
The government said the recent flood advisory issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) for 10 states, including Kaduna, does not pose any threat to the dam.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Ashiru Abdu Na Abdu, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
According to him, the structural concerns shown in images circulating on social media were first observed in 2015/2016 and were attributed to ageing and pressure from heavy rainfall.
He said the concerns were promptly addressed through emergency remedial works carried out by the ministry to stabilise the structure and ensure public safety.
The statement added that the Kangimi Dam has since remained under routine monitoring and minimal maintenance, with “no evidence of active structural failure.”
It stressed that the dam is currently intact and performing its intended function, adding that the government was taking precautionary measures to further strengthen the structure and improve its safety monitoring system.
The ministry said it was also procuring modern safety equipment, including automated water-level gauges, early-warning sirens and telemetry systems, which would enable round-the-clock monitoring of the dam.
The government urged residents to disregard reports suggesting that the dam is on the verge of collapse, saying it remains committed to ensuring the safety of communities around the facility.