Farmers, fishermen and residents of communities around Kangimi Dam in Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State have dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that the dam had collapsed or was at risk of imminent collapse.
The residents spoke on Monday when some investigative journalists visited the dam for an on-the-spot assessment following the reports.
During the fact-finding visit, farmers and fishermen were seen carrying out their normal activities along the riverbank, with residents saying their immediate concern was not the alleged collapse but the deplorable road linking their communities to major towns and markets.
The road from Maraban-Jos to Kangimi Dam, which is about 14 kilometres, is said to be in poor condition, making the transportation of farm produce, fish and other goods difficult and expensive.
A fisherman and farmer living near the dam, Mallam Shamsu Abubakar, said he had seen the reports on social media but was not unduly worried.
Abubakar, who said he had farmed and fished around the dam for many years in both the dry and rainy seasons, described the facility as beneficial to him and other residents.
He said while there had been concerns about leakage, his major concern was the need to dredge the dam to increase its water-storage capacity.
According to him, improved roads would enable farmers and fishermen to transport their produce to major markets more easily and reduce losses and transportation costs.
He recalled that a small crack developed at the dam about eight years ago during the administration of former Governor Nasir El-Rufai, but said the problem was repaired and activities around the facility continued normally.
Abubakar added that since reports about the dam began circulating on social media, several government officials had visited the area to inspect the facility.
Similarly, another farmer and resident of Gwauro community, Mallam Jibril Isa, said farmers around the dam had continued to benefit from both dry-season and rainy-season farming.
Isa said the dam had contributed significantly to agricultural and economic activities in the area, stressing that dredging it would increase its capacity to store water for farming.
He said the reports circulating on social media had not disrupted their activities but urged the government to improve the road network and undertake further work on the dam.
A resident of Rugugi-Gwauro community, Mallam Adamu Galadima, said many residents depended on rice, maize, sweet potatoes and other crops for their livelihoods.
He said poor transportation had become a major challenge, with residents sometimes relying on tipper trucks, machines and bicycles to move their farm produce.
Galadima appealed to the Kaduna State Government to rehabilitate the road leading to the dam, saying improved access would facilitate the movement of agricultural products to markets and make it easier for residents to access hospitals, schools and other essential services.
Another resident of Ruhugi-Gwauro, 29-year-old Mallam Usman, said the reports about the dam had not generated much concern among residents because poor roads remained their immediate challenge.
Usman described the nearly 50-year-old dam as beneficial to the surrounding communities and appealed to the government to sustain its support for residents living around the facility.
Kaduna Govt dismisses collapse report
Meanwhile, the Kaduna State Government has assured residents that the Kangimi Dam has not collapsed and remains intact and functional.
The assurance followed reports and photographs circulating on social media alleging that the facility was at risk of imminent collapse.
In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure, Alhaji Ashiru Abdu Na Abdu, the government said the images being circulated were linked to structural concerns first observed at the dam in 2015/2016.
According to the statement, the concerns were associated with ageing infrastructure and pressure from heavy rainfall and were subsequently addressed through emergency remedial works carried out by the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure.
The government said the dam had remained under routine monitoring and minimal maintenance, stressing that there was currently no evidence of active structural failure.
It added that additional safety measures, including automated water-level gauges, early-warning sirens and telemetry systems, were being planned to strengthen monitoring of the facility.
The government also disclosed that a joint technical inspection by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation and the Kaduna State Government was scheduled for August to assess the facility and determine further measures required to improve its safety.
Climate Reporters Clarify Fact-finding Visit
Meanwhile, African Climate Reporters (ACR), has clarified that its fact-finding visit to Kangimi Dam took place on Monday, August 24, 2026, after reports about the alleged collapse had already circulated on social media.
The organisation said claims suggesting that it had visited the dam before the reports emerged were incorrect.
African Climate Reporters commended the Kaduna State Government for its response to concerns surrounding the condition and safety of the dam.
It also welcomed the clarification issued by the Kaduna State Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure on August 20, following the reports alleging that the facility had collapsed.
The organisation said the government’s clarification had helped provide information on the historical structural concerns identified at the dam and reassure residents that there was currently no evidence of active structural failure.
ACR urged journalists, bloggers and media organisations to prioritise fact-finding and investigative reporting rather than relying on hearsay or unverified information.
It warned that unverified reports could create unnecessary fear and confusion among members of the public, stressing the need for responsible reporting, particularly on issues capable of causing public anxiety.
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