Residents and farmers around Dadin Kowa hydroelectric Dam in Gombe have decried that yearly incessant overflow of the Dam has been a constant source of pain and misery to the host community.
Dadin Kowa Dam, situated in Dadin Kowa community in Yamaltu Deba local government area of Gombe state, was established in 1984 to support irrigation and hydro-electricity generation.
The hydroelectric power plant has a capacity of 2.8 billion cubic liters of water and holds a 40-megawatt capacity Dadin Kowa Hydropower Project.
According to locals, in August 2024, the Dam overflowed leading to a catastrophic flood in Dadin Kowa community and environs as a result of a heavy spillage from the dam.
Some residents said they had recorded heavy losses of properties including many houses and hectares of farmlands.
WikkiTimes gathered that the dam reservoir had recorded water beyond its capacity around August when rain was at its peak in the area which spilled through the dam turbine that forced opening of the canals to release the excess water.
Some residents who have been affected shared their experiences with the recurring yearly challenges that they endure from the dam over the years.
Umar Aliyu, one of the residents and a civil servant said the water had advanced to farmlands and it came without warning from the government before they opened the waterways.
Umar, who had farmed and lost one and half acres of rice farm to the flood, explained that about a thousand hectares of farmlands and many houses were also destroyed by the flooding.
He added that after reporting the incident to the Northeast Development Commission, the victims were only compensated with mattresses, rice, spaghetti and blankets.
Another resident, Mallam Zanna said the water was reserved for dry farming but as the reservoir became stretched to its fullest capacity, there was no choice but to open the canals.
“The flood had no other way to flow than those farmlands,” he narrated, “rice and maize farmers lost hectares of their produce. The dam canals are usually opened at the time like this but it’s been long we faced any damage like this.”
For Ahmad Muhammad, another victim of the flood who lost his rice farm, the dam has always been a habitat for Tse-tse fly, a large and biting insect that spread diseases in the community. He decried that the government has for two years now, failed to vaccinate residents against this insect bite.
“The federal government through the ministry of health used to distribute Metizol vaccine on a bi-anual basis to protect residents from falling sick in case of the bite. But for two years now, despite our visits to the ministry, our cries remain unheard,” he lamented.
The farmer also complained of the presence of large numbers of Hippopotamus in the dam which destroy their farms on several occasions.
“Hippos are aquatics that can stay up to 10 hours on land and when they do so in Dadin Kowa, they end up eating hectares of farmlands including Rice, Maize and even Guinea Corn farms. It is against the government’s rules to kill them so there is nothing we can do,” he said.
Speaking on compensation, Muhammad said he has not been compensated for his loss and he does not expect anything. He said “Representatives of the River Benue Upper Basin Development Authority as well as the Gombe state government were here to collect details of the victims of the flood but only names were compiled without contact addresses nor bank account details, doesn’t it look suspicious and deceitful?” he asked rhetorically.
WikkiTimes efforts to speak with relevant authorities in Gombe proved unsuccessful as the state Commissioner of Water, Environment and Forest Resources, Hon. Mohammed Fawu, could not pick calls through his phone number. He did not respond to a WhatsAppp message too.
The state ministry of health also failed to respond to its alleged failure to vaccinate the communities to diseases that may have connection to the presence of the dam or its consequent such as flooding.
Hafsah Muhammed Ibrahim, from Bauchi State, is a literary enthusiast and an advocate for women’s rights. As the Editor and Lead Podcaster at WikkiTimes, she draws on her background in Sociology and Education to create compelling narratives that amplify the voices of marginalized communities.
An avid Scrabble player and tea enthusiast, Hafsah blends her passion for storytelling with a strong commitment to driving social change.
