The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the airlift of relief materials to victims of the recent flood disaster, which rendered over a million residents homeless in Maiduguri and its surrounding communities of Borno state.
NAF Deputy Director Public Relations and Information Group Captain Kabir Ali said this in a statement Sunday in Abuja.
Ali said the airlift mission was in fulfillment of NAF’s statutory role of providing Military Aid to Civil Authority (MACA).
He said the materials being airlifted were donated by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), and aimed at alleviating the suffering caused by the floods, which had disrupted daily life, destroyed properties, and displaced millions of residents.
According to him, the airlift which commenced September 14, had the first batch of relief items of 300 bags of 50kg rice, successfully delivered to NAF Base in Maiduguri via the NAF C-130 Hercules aircraft.
“The Air Component Commander, Air Commodore UU Idris, received the materials and handed over the same to the Commissioner for Inter-Governmental and Special Duties, Alhaji Tukur Ibrahim, who was accompanied by the Comptroller of the Nigerian Customs Service, MD Malah.
“Also, heavy-duty trucks provided by the NAF were also used to transport the materials to the Borno State Government House for onward distribution. Additionally, the NAF has launched a medical outreach programme to support flood victims.
“This initiative includes the provision of medications, food, and water supplies to help mitigate the effects of the flood and address the urgent needs of the affected population,” he said.
Ali added that the NAF airlift mission and medical outreach were part of a broader effort to support national disaster response initiatives and highlight the critical role of military assets in humanitarian crises.
He said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Hassan Abubakar, had directed that such operations must continue as needed, ensuring that both relief materials and medical aid reached all affected areas.
“Under the directive of the Chief of the Air Staff, the NAF will persistently collaborate with other security agencies to mobilise human and material resources for the support of flood victims.
“These operations will be sustained as long as necessary to ensure that relief effectively reaches those affected by this disaster,” Ali assured. (NAN).
…Victims get N150m support
In a related development, the Yobe state government has donated N100 million assistance to Borno state government in support of the victims of the disaster.
Yobe state Governor Mai Mala Buni presented the donation Saturday during a sympathy visit to Borno state Governor Babagana Umara Zulum in Maiduguri.
Buni also announced a personal donation of foodstuff worth N50 million to the victims.
He described the humanitarian crisis as catastrophic, and called for support and assistance from everyone.
“Yobe and Borno states are like twins that have suffered similar fate, and need the support of one another” he said.
Buni prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives in the flood and speedy recovery for the injured persons.
Receiving the support, Governor Zulum commended the government and people of Yobe state for the kind-hearted support to their brothers.
“The people of Yobe and Borno states remain one united family, what affects one, affects the other. l am proud to say that His Excellency, my elder brother, Governor Mai Mala Buni, has since assumption of office as Governor of Yobe state strengthened the ties and brotherhood between Borno and Yobe states more than ever.
“Your administration has on several occasions identified with the government and people of Borno state. The government and people of Borno state deeply appreciate Your Excellency for this very kind gesture,” Zulum said.
…281 inmates missing – NCoS
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS) Sunday said 281 inmates were missing from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Maiduguri, after the disaster.
The NCoS said this was consequent upon an evacuation process in the aftermath of the incident, adding that seven inmates were, however, returned to the centre.
Announcing this in a statement in Abuja, NCoS spokesman, Umar Abubakar, said: “The Nigerian Correctional Service has observed the flooding currently being experienced in Maiduguri, Borno State, and its environment.
“The unfortunate incident has left scars, bringing down the walls of the correctional facilities, including the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Maiduguri (MSCC), as well as the staff quarters in the City.
“Upon the evacuation of inmates by officers of the service with support from sister security agencies to a safe and secure facility, 281 inmates were observed to be missing.”
“it is important to note that the service is in custody of their details, including their biometrics, which is being made available to the public below.
“The service is working in synergy with other security agencies as both covert and overt deployments have been activated to look out for them.
“Presently, a total of seven inmates have been recaptured and returned to custody, while efforts are on ground to track down the rest and bring them back to safe custody,” it said.
He said: “While this effort is on, the public is assured that the incident does not impede or affect public safety.”
…UN team arrives Borno
Meanwhile, a team comprising various organisations under the United Nations, arrived in Maiduguri Saturday for an assessment visit of the damage caused by the flood disaster.
In the team were national and international NGOs, led by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Mohamed Fall, NAN reports.
The team which visited camps to interact with victims, also paid solidarity visit to Governor Zulum and later interacted with journalists.
In addressing the challenges occasioned by the disaster, Fall assured the government and people of Borno of UN support , saying: “We are all with you in sympathy and solidarity and we will translate it into action.
“I want to tell you that we will not spare any of our resources in this response.
“We will refocus resources designed for some other interventions to see how we can bring them towards scaling up this response.”
He said that the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) would do a comprehensive post- disaster assessment looking at setting up a recovery plan.
…Zulum spells out areas of urgent needs
In his response, Governor Zulum thanked the UN delegation for its series of interventions in the state, while assuring the team of government’s commitment to collaborate with them.
Zulum, who spoke on the magnitude of destruction caused by the flood, urged the UN agencies to first focus on the immediate needs of the victims such as food, health, shelter, water sanitation and hygiene.
“We need to immediately start fumigation of areas identified as safe to guard against outbreaks and to make them ready for people to go back to their homes,” he said.
The governor also said some people using schools as camps needed to be supported to go back to their homes within the shortest possible time to enable children to go back to school.
“Our children have suffered from lack of education for a long time due to insurgency and we cannot afford to miss this session completely,” he added.
The governor said that with support from reliable partners, his administration would not allow the flood incident to deter it from pursuing its development plan.
NAN reports that more than 414,000 people were displaced by Tuesday’s devastating flood in Maiduguri.
The Head of Public Information, UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Abuja, Ann Weru, stated this in a Media Advisory.
Weru said the data was collected by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) as of September 11.
“NEMA’s records also show that 37 people died, and about 58 people sustained injuries,” she said.
Access to hospitals, schools and markets, she added, had been hampered.
“Damages to infrastructure, including bridges, were recorded.
“Evacuation of people in high-risk areas to safer ground is ongoing, amid concerns about the risk of disease outbreaks,” she said.