Flooding has submerged major roads, homes, and businesses in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, as well as parts of the Jere Local Government Area. The devastating floodwaters have also affected key public facilities, including the Shehu’s Palace, the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo.
In a particularly severe incident, a prison wall located along the Custom area collapsed due to the flood, resulting in reports of inmates drowning, while others managed to escape in the chaos.
The flood has also made several key roads impassable, cutting off vehicular movement in various parts of the city. Among the roads affected are the Post-Office Roundabout, which links major areas within the city, as well as Abbaganaram, Custom Road, Tashan Bama, Monday Market, Gamboru Market, the Custom Area, Cattle Market in old Maiduguri, the Gwange area, and Lagos Street.
The flood has caused severe damage to the Sanda Kyarimi Zoo Park, with the zoo’s General Manager, Ali Abatcha, reporting that 80% of the animals have been killed, while the remaining ones have escaped into the city, posing a further challenge to the metropolis.
Thousands of residents living in flood-prone areas, many of whom are women and children, have been displaced by the rising waters. Many small business owners and shopkeepers have also been severely impacted, with properties and livelihoods lost.
Displaced families are moving to safer areas in Maiduguri, with many taking refuge under trees along the major roads, carrying whatever belongings they could salvage.
The flood is attributed not only to the heavy rainfall recorded this year but also to a breach in the banks of the Alo Dam. The dam, a major water supply source for Maiduguri, is fed by the River Ngadda in Cameroon and Lake Chad, and the overflow has contributed significantly to the devastation.
In response, President Bola Tinubu has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide assistance to the flood victims. In a statement by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President expressed deep concern over the situation and extended condolences to the families who have lost loved ones and property.
He also assured the Borno State government, led by Governor Babagana Zulum, that the Federal Government would collaborate to address the immediate humanitarian crisis. President Tinubu emphasized the urgent need to evacuate those in the affected areas and reaffirmed his commitment to mobilizing federal resources to support the state during this difficult period.
