Governor Confirms Receiving N3billion flood support from FG
Governor Babagana Zulum, while distributing cash and cooked food to displaced persons taking refuge in Bukassi camp, Maiduguri, said a Health Emergency Committee had been constituted to prevent flood-related epidemics in Maiduguri and Jere city.
The Borno State government has stated that no fewer than one million people were affected by the flood which ravaged the state, on Tuesday.
Governor Babagana Zulum, while distributing cash and cooked food to displaced persons taking refuge in Bukassi camp, Maiduguri, said a Health Emergency Committee had been constituted to prevent flood-related epidemics in Maiduguri and Jere city.
He stressed that a search and rescue team began operations across affected communities to determine the quantum of loss on lives and property, adding that he received N3billion flood intervention fund from the Federal Government and it would be put to use in addressing the challenges faced by the flood victims.
“You can see how water completely flooded the area, sewages were completely flooded, that means waterborne diseases would be transmitted but Insha Allah we should get over it.
“As of now, we are yet to ascertain the extent of damage, but about one fourth of the entire Maiduguri is flooded with water.
“The population affected is up to 1 million, what we are doing this morning is to provide immediate succor, which is food and non-food items,” he said.
“Data would be collated of affected persons, immediately.”
Zulum said the flood overwhelmed Alau dam, which overflowed into the city and the water volume released from the other dam in Cameroon.
He assured that the dam would be reconstructed and retrofitted to contain its volume, while illegal structures on waterways and flood prone locations would be demolished.
SaharaReporters had reported how many persons including children were reported missing amid the flooding that hit Maiduguri.
This is even as houses have remained submerged, with hundreds of houses and lots of properties destroyed.
It would be recalled that the Alau Dam had overflowed its banks from about 10 kilometres away into the state capital.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was also quoted as confirming that over 200,000 people were displaced.
An unspecified number of people, including children are still missing.
Many properties including, houses, farmlands and business places have also been destroyed.
Residential and business areas have been submerged, including the popular Monday Market and thousands of homes and properties, such as the Palace of the Shehu of Borno, Shehuri, Gwange, Adamkolo, Gamboru, Fori, Bulabulin, Post Office areas, Moromoro, and Customs Bridge, among others, have also been affected.
Some of the residents, who spoke to SaharaReporters earlier, confirmed that the widespread flooding had submerged several houses, major roads, and official buildings including Emir’s palace.
