Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, confirmed on Wednesday that the Federal Government has donated ₦3 billion to support flood victims in the state. This donation comes in response to the massive flooding that has displaced over a million people in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.
During a visit to the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp along the Biu-Damboa road in Maiduguri, Governor Zulum announced that in addition to the monetary aid, food and other essential supplies would be provided to the displaced individuals. He also mentioned that vendors have been contracted to provide meals for those staying at the camp.
The governor acknowledged the receipt of the ₦3 billion flood intervention fund from the Federal Government, stating that it will be used to address the devastating impact of the flood. He also laid out plans to form a health committee to prevent potential disease outbreaks in the aftermath of the disaster.
Governor Zulum added that search and rescue operations have commenced across the affected communities to assess the loss of lives. He further noted that data collection of displaced persons will begin immediately to better understand the extent of the damage.
Explaining the cause of the flood, Zulum pointed to unusually heavy terrestrial rainfall experienced this year. He also cited the overflow of the Alo Dam, which was triggered by the release of water from other dams in Cameroon, as a contributing factor.
In response, the governor promised that the Alo Dam would be reconstructed to hold more water in the future. Additionally, he announced that any structures built on flood-prone or riverine areas would be demolished to prevent future incidents.
For more updates, join our WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VabITrvEAKW7DSkTfP0J