PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu arrived in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, today to express his sympathies to the government and residents following a recent flood disaster.
He landed at 3:40 pm and proceeded to one of the emergency camps to console the flood victims.
At the camp, President Tinubu reassured the displaced persons of his administration’s commitment to providing assistance.
“I want to assure you that we are going to support you, we will support you. God bless you,” Tinubu stated.
Accompanying the President were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, and other aides.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who had been in Maiduguri earlier in the day to inspect flood-damaged police facilities, was at the Air Force Base to receive him.
Also present at the base to welcome the President were the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazak; Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, Bala Mohammed; Governor of Kogi State, Ahmed Ododo; and Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu.
Despite heavy rainfall in Maiduguri, President Tinubu also visited the palace of the Shehu of Borno.
“My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in this catastrophe. I stand with the resilient people of Borno and assure you of the Federal Government’s continued support in providing relief as we work together to rebuild lives and restore hope,” President Tinubu wrote in the condolence register at the Shehu’s palace.
Tinubu had just returned to the country the previous night after an official visit to China and a brief stay in the United Kingdom.
Lives lost
Officials reported on Wednesday that the severe flooding in Maiduguri had claimed at least 30 lives and displaced 400,000 people.
“The death toll stands at 30,” National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP, a day after water from an overflowing dam devastated thousands of homes in Borno’s capital.
“The situation in Maiduguri is alarming,” added NEMA’s Zubaida Umar. “The flood has covered about 40 percent of the city, forcing people to flee their homes.”
According to Umar, 414,000 people have been displaced, and the number could rise to one million.
The UN refugee agency in Nigeria stated on X that the flooding is the worst to hit the city in 30 years.
‘Exact number of casualties unknown’
In an interview with on Saturday, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum said the exact death toll from the flood disaster remains unknown, as some areas remain inaccessible. However, efforts are underway to reach those areas as soon as possible.
Zulum also reassured victims that the government would assist them and highlighted the long-standing neglect of the dam, pledging to address the issue.
“We need to assess the loss of lives due to the flooding, as some areas are still unreachable, but rescue missions are ongoing. Many people have been rescued. We experienced a similar disaster 30 years ago, but this one is much worse. The dam definitely needs reconstruction,” Zulum explained.
