The Nigerian Committee on Large Dams (NICOLD) has called for increased private-sector investment and sustained training of young engineers to improve dam safety, management and climate resilience across the country.
The committee’s President, Dr Johnson Adewumi, made the call at its 2026 National Conference and Annual General Meeting in Abuja, themed “Sustainable Dams for Water, Energy and Climate Resilience.” He said the conference provided an opportunity for engineers, policymakers and researchers to exchange knowledge and develop solutions to challenges in dam engineering.
Adewumi stressed that while the public sector was responsible for policy development, private organisations had an important role in translating policies into practical projects. He disclosed that NICOLD had organised seven training sessions on dam operations and maintenance with support from partners, including Mainstream Energy Solutions and DeCrown West Africa Company. He also emphasised mentoring and knowledge transfer to equip younger engineers with skills in dam design, construction and management.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, represented by the ministry’s Acting Permanent Secretary, Ali Dallah, called for stronger collaboration and investment to improve dam safety, hydropower generation and water management.
Also speaking, dam safety expert Matthew Offie urged authorities to reassess existing dams using updated climate and hydrological data, noting that changing rainfall patterns, floods and prolonged droughts could make historical assessments inadequate.
Data cited at the conference showed that floods affected 315,762 people, displaced 113,367 and killed 231 across 25 states and 86 local government areas as of September 2025, while hydropower plants generated 3,081.88 gigawatt-hours in the first quarter of 2025.
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