Kangimi dam intact, Kaduna gov’t residents refute collapse rumours

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

For the families, farmers, and fishermen living along the banks of the Kangimi Dam in Igabi Local Government Area, the online panic claiming their home was on the brink of destruction felt worlds away from their daily reality.

While viral social media posts warned of a catastrophic dam collapse, the people who know the river best were quietly going about their morning routines, casting nets, tending crops, and navigating the far more pressing challenge of basic survival.

A fact-finding visit by journalists on Monday revealed a stark contrast between online sensationalism and the lived experiences of local residents.

The nearly 50-year-old dam remains intact, continuing to sustain the livelihoods of thousands across both dry and rainy seasons.

But behind the debunked rumours lies a human story of economic strain, difficult commutes, and deep community reliance on essential infrastructure.

For those whose daily bread depends on the water, the true crisis is not a structural breakdown of the dam, but the isolation caused by broken roads connecting them to the rest of the state.

Mallam Shamsu Abubakar, a long-time local fisherman and farmer, saw the viral reports but remained calm.

Remembering a small crack that was successfully repaired years ago during former Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s administration, Abubakar views the dam as a blessing.

His real hope is for the government to dredge the water reservoir to boost water storage and fix the road that brings buyers to his catch.

Similarly, Mallam Jibril Isa of the Gwauro community emphasized the human cost of neglect.

He explained that while the dam powers local agriculture, the severely deteriorated 14-kilometer stretch from Maraban-Jos to Kangimi makes transporting fish and farm produce an agonizing and expensive ordeal, cutting into already thin family profits.

Another resident, Mallam Adamu Galadima from Rugugi-Gwauro, shared how families relying on rice, maize, and sweet potatoes face daily transport struggles.

Poor roads force residents to rely on heavy tipper trucks, motorcycles, and bicycles just to move food to market or worse, to transport sick family members to distant hospitals and children to school.

For Mallam Usman, 29,  young people in the area felt little panic over the collapse rumors because their immediate hardship is moving goods safely out of the village.

The Kaduna State Government swiftly reassured the public that the dam remains safe and operational.

In a statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Ashiru Abdu Na Abdu, officials clarified that the viral images dated back to structural issues from 2015/2016 caused by heavy rains and aging infrastructure, which were fully resolved through emergency repairs.

To ensure long-term safety, the state is introducing automated water-level gauges, early-warning sirens, and telemetry monitoring, alongside a joint technical inspection with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation.

Following the assessment, African Climate Reporters (ACR) praised the state’s prompt clarification but issued a strong call for responsible journalism. ACR urged media outlets and content creators to ground their reporting in verified facts rather than hearsay, reminding the public that reckless panic distracts from the real, everyday needs of rural communities striving to build a secure livelihood.