Amid growing speculation that ongoing dam construction in Kofsopah District may have triggered recent flooding in parts of Yola, Umaru Fintiri, the governor of Adamawa State, has visited the project site to conduct a firsthand assessment and address public concerns.
The devastating flood, which recently swept through several communities including Shagari, Sabon Pegi, and the area behind the Distance Learning Centre, claimed at least 25 lives. It also submerged homes, farmlands, and properties, leaving hundreds of residents displaced and distressed.
Speaking to reporters after inspecting the dam site in Fufore Local Government Area, Governor Fintiri said preliminary technical evaluations showed no evidence linking the flood to the construction activities.
“We came here to get firsthand information on the situation,” he said. “From what we have seen, and based on expert assessments, I don’t see any threat from this dam.”
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Fintiri acknowledged that the presence of a spillway channel designed to release excess water is a standard feature in dam design.
However, he assured residents that a more thorough evaluation would be carried out.
“We will deploy additional professionals to conduct a comprehensive assessment and provide actionable recommendations,” the governor stated. “Even in the next ten years, based on the current water levels, I don’t see this dam posing any risk.”
The governor also emphasised the government’s plan to revisit the affected communities, identify areas with drainage blockages, and implement measures to mitigate further damage.
Supporting the governor’s remarks, an official from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) confirmed that the site is properly licensed and monitored.
“This is a licensed site. Our team visited on Saturday and observed no significant change in the water level. Everything remains consistent—there’s nothing unusual,” the NSCDC official said.
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Environmental expert and university professor, Liman Tukur, who was also part of the inspection team, backed the safety of the construction.
“The site is stable, and safety measures are being enforced. There’s no indication that the dam contributed to the flooding,” he said, urging the public not to panic.
Hussaini Maiwada Baba, the site manager of Pleasing Company, the firm handling the project, also debunked the rumours.
“There’s absolutely nothing wrong with the dam,” he said. “The speculation is rooted in a misunderstanding of how spillways work. The discharge from the dam is minimal and not capable of causing such flooding.”
Authorities say further technical investigations will continue in the coming weeks as part of the state government’s broader response to the disaster.
