President Bola Tinubu has ordered the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the flood victims in Borno State.

Tinubu, who expressed deep concern about the flooding in parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, said he remains committed to mobilising federal resources to support the state during this difficult time.

The worst flood in recent decades has displaced thousands of residents and affected facilities such as Maiduguri Zoo, Post Office, Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and cemetery.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, September 10, 2024 by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), President Tinubu extends his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the state, especially to the families that have lost their means of livelihood due to the disaster triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam.

While relevant authorities are still assessing the damage wrought by the flood, the President calls for the immediate evacuation of people from affected areas.

Onanuga stated that President Tinubu assures Governor Babagana Umara Zulum that the Federal Government is ready to collaborate to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the affected people.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has directed his Vice, Kashim Shettima, to immediately visit Maiduguri over the devastating flood in the state capital.

Shettima disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja, at the 17th Annual Banking and Finance Conference (CIBN) with the theme, “Accelerated Economic Growth and Development: the state of play and the way forward,”

“After this meeting with the consent of the President, I will rush to Maiduguri. The whole city has been overtaken by flood.

Flood hits Maiduguri zoo, animals break free

“It is not peculiar to one part of the country. We are facing this challenges right from Bayelsa to Sokoto.

“Be rest assured that the President has the nation at heart and will do whatever it takes to salvage the state of affairs,” he said

Shettima expressed the sympathy of Tinubu’s administration to all the victims of flood disasters nationwide.

“I want to use this forum to commiserate with the people of our great nation over the flood disasters we are recording all across the length and breath of this nation,” he said.

Many residents of Maiduguri have been displaced by flood, following the collapse of water channels at the Alau Dam.

The flood submerged residential quarters, roads and bridges, making many areas in the metropolis inaccessible.

The flood submerged strategic areas including parts of the Shehu of Borno Palace, Maiduguri Central Market and University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Other areas badly hit included the GRA, Maiduguri Zoo, College of Nursing, College of Agriculture and School of Health Technology, among others.

Many residents were seen evacuating basic items to areas considered relatively safer, with some youths erecting sandbags to prevent water from entering their quarters.

The state government is yet to issue official figures of casualties, but it has ordered the closure of public and private schools for two weeks.

The Star