Flooding: AbdulRazaq, Sanwo-Olu, others visit Borno, residents count losses
Borno flood
An aerial view of houses submerged by flooding and residents giving information to officials of the National Emergency Management Agency in Maiduguri…on Tuesday. Photos: AFP
On Thursday, residents of Maiduguri began to count losses as the water receded in some parts of the state, following the devastating flood after the collapse of the Alau Dam in the metropolis.
Also on Thursday, governors of Kwara, Lagos, Ondo and Adamawa states, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Ahmadu Fintiri, respectively, visited Maiduguri to sympathise with Governor Babagana Zulum and promised their support at the trying times.
Their visit came after Vice President Kashim Shettima, on the order of President Bola Tinubu, inspected the situation in Maiduguri on Tuesday.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, AbdulRazaq, wrote on X, “Today, I led my colleagues at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to Maiduguri, Borno State, where we assessed the impact of the recent flooding that has displaced thousands of residents in the state.
“It is a huge humanitarian crisis, which requires that we all rally around the victims.
“The NGF stands in solidarity with the government and residents of the affected areas. We commend the swift efforts of the Federal Government and the state’s authorities to bring immediate succour to the victims.”
In his post on X on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu wrote, “Today, I joined the governors of Ondo, Adamawa and Kwara on a visit to Borno State to extend our support to Governor Babagana Zulum in light of the tragic flooding in Maiduguri. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the families affected by this disaster.
“The extent of the flooding in Maiduguri is truly devastating. As a nation, it is important that we come together to provide relief, assist in rescue operations and ensure that those affected receive the necessary aid.”
In another post on X, Fintiri wrote, “Today, I visited Maiduguri to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters affected by the devastating floods. What I saw was truly heartbreaking – the loss of lives, homes and livelihoods.
“Adamawa State stands with Borno in this difficult time. We’ve provided Prof Zulum essential resources to aid recovery efforts and I urge the Federal Government and all stakeholders to take swift action to prevent future occurrences.”
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, on Thursday, extended his condolences to Zulum and the people of Borno State over the flood.
In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Baba Dantiye, the governor said, “The catastrophic incident is indeed tragic and heartrending, as many lives were lost, families and numerous communities were displaced, while unimaginable damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure was recorded.”
The PUNCH, during an assessment visit to some areas, including Modugari, Kofar Shehu, Monday Market and Lagos Street where the flood had subsided, observed that some of the victims who came to check their properties were currently stranded.
“I went to my house yesterday evening, and the cement floor in my apartment and my tenants’ apartments had absorbed so much water that if you step into the room, the floor will crack and sink under your feet,” a landlord in Modugari, Micheal Tegwolo, told our correspondent.
He said he resolved to start begging those he knew to come to his aid because he was currently finding it difficult to survive the economic situation of the country.
“From what I saw, I will need at least seven bags of cement. In this economic situation and with the price of cement, how will I afford such? I heard the Federal Government donated N3bn to victims yesterday. We are hopeful that the money will benefit the right people. This is the most important thing for me and my family as there is no way we can stay in the rooms, even if the flood subsided completely today,” he added.
Another victim, Muktar Ibrahim, a mobile phone charger in Tudu, lamented the loss of his livelihood as his equipment and charging space were destroyed.
“I left the shop on Monday around 8 pm. My generator, charging panels, contact and record card have all been destroyed. They were all soaked in water, some of them were on the flood and even those on the table were covered by the water. This is a big loss for me. I will be glad to benefit from the donations,” he said.
The PUNCH observed that most shops were still locked around the Post Office area, while others around the Monday Market, particularly in the Baban-Lanye area, opened for business activities.
The victims called on the government to come to their aid, through the judicious allocation of donations from the Federal Government and others for the benefit of those affected by the flood.
The governor, speaking with newsmen on Wednesday, confirmed the receipt of the intervention fund of N3bn from the Federal Government.
He promised that the fund would be used to cushion the effects of the flooding in the state.
As of Thursday evening, many displaced people were still taking refuge at internally displaced persons camps set up by the state government.
The governor promised that long-term strategies would include the formation of a health committee to monitor potential disease outbreaks and mitigate their effects.
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Also, search and rescue operations continued in the affected communities with the military and officials of the National Emergency Management Agency evacuating the victims.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, in a condolence message to the government and people of Borno State, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the situation by mobilising resources to support the victims.
A press statement signed and made available to journalists on Thursday by the National President of ALGON, Aminu Maifata, read, “ALGON commiserates with the families of those who lost their loved ones and properties in this disaster. Our thoughts are with the government and people of Borno State during this difficult time.
“The association calls on the Federal Government to declare an emergency in Maiduguri and mobilise resources to support the victims. We also urge the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant agencies to provide immediate relief materials and support to the affected communities.”
The PUNCH also reports that normalcy is returning to Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, particularly in areas submerged after the heavy downpours on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Although no life was lost and there had not been any reports of monumental loss, the flooding affected transportation and other commercial and social activities in the state capital.
A journalist who lives in Swali, opposite the Yenagoa branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mike Tayese, told The PUNCH on Thursday that the water had receded.
“The water entered my house. I bailed the water to an extent but couldn’t continue because it was too much. One of my sofas was soaked. Apart from that, nothing else was damaged.
“There’s a canal in the area that links the Cemetery area. If the state government can clear it, it will help us immensely,” Tayese stated.
Chetachi Loveth, who runs an eatery in Ekeki, said she bailed water late on Tuesday and did not open for business on Wednesday.
She said, “Today, I bailed the remaining water before starting my business,” adding that she lost about N8,000 because she did not open for business on Wednesday.
When reached for comments, the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control, Walson Omuso, said, “We have started doing certain things to join the channels so the water can flow.”
On the issue of houses built on natural water courses, he said his directorate did not have the legal power to destroy the structures but would list such places on request by the government.
49 dead, 226 Kano communities affected – SEMA
The Kano State Emergency Management Agency on Wednesday evening confirmed that 49 persons had been killed and 226 communities ravaged by flood and windstorms in 27 local government areas of the state from January to date.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi-Kubarachi, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano.
He recalled that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency earlier predicted the high risk of flooding in 14 local government areas of the state.
He listed the affected areas to include, Tudun Wada, Gwale, Wudil, Danbatta, Ajingi, Dala, Gwarzo, Madobi, Bichi, Kano Municipal, Karaye, Tarauni, Minjibir, Bebeji, Rogo, Shanono, Kabo, Garin Malam and Ungogo.
Others are Kumbotso, Nasarawa, Kura, Dawakin Kudu, Dawakin Tofa,Gezawa, Rogo and Bagwai Local Government Areas.
He noted that the flood destroyed 6,583 houses, while 38,814 persons were affected.
“8,289 farmlands equivalent to 36,265 hectares were destroyed, 1, 414 persons were displaced and 139 persons were injured,” the SEMA boss said
The agency boss added that it had responded swiftly by visiting the affected local government areas to sympathise with the victims on behalf of the Kano State government, as well as distributing relief materials to alleviate their sufferings.
He warned against building on waterways and urged residents in the state to always clear drainages in front of their houses to prevent flooding.