President Bola Tinubu arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Monday to sympathize with the government and people of the state over the recent flood disaster.
Immediately after his arrival, the president headed to one of the emergency camps to commiserate with the victims of the flood.
At the Camp, President Tinubu assured the displaced persons that his government will support them.
“I want to assure you that we are going to support you, we will support you. God Bless you,” Tinubu said.
In the entourage of the President are the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, and other aides of the President.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun was at the Maiduguri Air Force Base to receive the President having been in Maiduguri earlier on the day to inspect police facilities affected by the flood.
Also, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, the Chairman Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed, the Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo, Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu were at the Air Force Base to receive the President.
Tinubu returned to the country Sunday night after his official visit to China and his short stay in the United Kingdom.
Officials had last Wednesday said the severe flooding in the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri claimed at least 30 lives and forced 400,000 people from their homes.
“The death toll is 30,” National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP a day after water from an overflowing dam swept away thousands of homes in the capital city of Borno state.
“The situation in Maiduguri is quite frightening,” said Manzo’s NEMA colleague Zubaida Umar.
“The flood has taken over around 40 percent of the entire city. People have been forced out of their homes and are scattered everywhere.
“From our statistics, we have 414,000 displaced people,” Umar said. He told the BBC’s Hausa language service that officials feared that number could reach one million.
The UN refugee agency in Nigeria said on X last Tuesday that the flooding was the worst to hit the city in 30 years.
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, said the total number of lives lost in the flood disaster in Maiduguri is unknown, as efforts to ensure areas not yet accessible are reached as soon as possible.
Governor Zulum also reassured the affected victims that the government will come to their aide.
The governor said neglect of the dam over the years has been a major challenge and that efforts will be made to remedy the situation.
“We have to quantify the loss of lives that has happened as a result of this flooding because up till now we have some areas that we can’t have access, but rescue mission is ongoing.
“Quite a number of persons were rescued, so this is the situation that we are in. We had similar disaster 30 years ago although the extent is not up to this one, but I believe the dam requires reconstruction,” Zulum said.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
