The Federal Government has reassured residents of Goronyo and nearby communities that the Goronyo Dam is safe and structurally sound. This announcement comes after a thorough inspection aimed at addressing concerns over possible flooding in the region.

During a visit to the dam site in Keta, Goronyo Local Government Area of Sokoto State, Engr. Prof. Joseph Utsev, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, led a technical team as part of the Inter-Ministerial Technical Committee on Dam Evaluation. The visit was initiated in response to the recent flooding incidents in Maiduguri, Borno State, which heightened attention on the state of Nigeria’s dams.

The committee, which includes representatives from various ministries—such as Environment, Housing, Works, Budget and National Planning, Information, and Finance—was established by President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the nation’s dams are properly maintained and capable of fulfilling their intended purposes.

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Mrs. Oluwatosin Abiola, the Deputy Director of Dams and Reservoirs at the Ministry of Water Resources, represented the minister during this critical visit. She assured residents that the Goronyo Dam is secure, stating that all necessary safety measures are currently in place.

“Following a detailed evaluation of the dam’s facilities, we are confident that Goronyo Dam is stable and safe,” Abiola confirmed. The dam, located in the Keta community, has an impressive holding capacity of approximately 942 million cubic meters and extends about 12.5 kilometers in length.

Abiola further emphasized that the dam’s gates and structural protections are in optimal condition, providing peace of mind to the local population. “Our inspection revealed that the dam’s protective systems, gates, and sand barriers are intact and functioning as required by safety protocols,” she explained.