…as Tinubu approves N108bn to tackle flood, erosion
Official report of the severe flooding in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, has noted that at least 30 lives have been lost and over 400,000 people have been displaced 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 Tuesday the flooding was the worst to hit the city in 30 years.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has approved N108 billion for the 36 states of the federation to tackle flooding and other natural disaster, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima at the State House in Abuja, the nation’s capital on Wednesday.
Receiving the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, the Vice President described the situation in Maiduguri as a “national calamity”.
“The President has shown his zeal, willingness and commitment to partner with the states towards addressing these issues,” Shettima said, saying, “Recently, he approved the release of N3 billion to each state of the federation to address some of these challenges so that all parts of the federation should have buy-in and belonging.”
Shettima also commended the Speaker for what he described as his “stellar leadership in the National Assembly,” saying despite having nearly 70 percent of the members as newly sworn-in, the Speaker has been able to keep the flag flying.
“There is a lot of stability in the House of Representatives, and we have to commend you for providing that leadership. We wish you well and, Insha Allah, you are one of the fulcrums of our democratic journey.
“A harmonious relationship among the executive, the legislature and the judiciary is very essential to sustain democracy in Nigeria. Once again, thank you most sincerely on behalf of the President, the government and people of Borno for your show of empathy and support,” he said.
On his part, Tajudeen commiserated with Shettima, Tinubu, the government and people of Borno State, assuring that the National Assembly will provide support for the affected community.
“We in the National Assembly are looking all through to see what kind of support we will give to the people affected. We are very sorry, Your Excellency, for what happened. We share your pains; we share your concerns; we are together in this from the beginning to the end.
“Insha Allah, it will come to pass, and people will go back to their normal lives and businesses as if it did not happen because we and you will make sure that we provide all the palliatives for them to regain their means of livelihood. Thank you, Your Excellency; please, convey our sincere concerns to the Governor and to the people of Borno State,” he said.
