Maiduguri is facing its most severe flooding since 1994, with residents in Borno on high alert as rising waters have submerged numerous homes.
The flood is reportedly due to the overflow of the Alau Dam, which has been filled to capacity for the past week.
In a statement issued early Tuesday, titled “Flooding Alert for River Bank Residents,” Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, called for the immediate evacuation of affected areas.
Tar also urged residents in the affected areas to follow designated evacuation routes for their safety.
He said, “Due to the unusually high volume of water this year, we urge all the residents living along the river bank to take immediate action to protect themselves and their properties.”
“The Alau Dam water has broken down another channel that is currently destroying farms and the water is heading toward the river bank.”
According to NAN, the last time the dam experienced a similar issue was in 1994, leading to severe flooding that submerged nearly half of Maiduguri.
The Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) reports that the disaster has left hundreds of families sleeping outdoors, with many seen scrambling to salvage whatever belongings they could. Entire neighborhoods along the riverbanks have been affected, with most residents unable to access their homes.
Recent floodings in Nigeria
In the past few weeks various states, especially in the north, have seen flash floods resulting in the destruction of lives, farmlands and property.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that recent floods have damaged approximately 16,488 hectares of farmland across 27 states. Additionally, over 32,000 houses were destroyed, and about 227,000 people were impacted, according to data from emergency agencies.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abdullahi Sabi Aliyu, noted that up to 51% of Nigeria’s farming areas are at risk of flooding in 2024. Meanwhile, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, warned that the ongoing floods will negatively affect this year’s anticipated harvest.
Efforts to provide relief from the floods
To ameliorate the severity of the disaster, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Wale Edun had proposed to provide N3 billion to states affected by the floods.
Furthermore, The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has pledged over $6.5 million to support humanitarian efforts related to flood relief in Nigeria. USAID stated that the funds will support local partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in addressing the severe flooding affecting multiple regions across the country.