10th September, 2024
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the catastrophic flooding in Maiduguri as a “dire national emergency” following the overflow and breach of the Alau Dam, which has displaced thousands of residents and triggered an urgent humanitarian crisis.
In a statement shared on social media, Atiku highlighted the severity of the disaster, emphasising the widespread destruction caused by the floods.
“This deluge has ravaged farms and plunged a significant portion of Maiduguri into an urgent humanitarian crisis,” he noted, citing media reports.
According to statistics from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Atiku revealed that recent floods had damaged approximately 16,488 hectares of farmland across 27 states, destroyed 32,000 houses, and impacted over 227,000 people.
Atiku urged federal relief agencies to expedite their response to the crisis, providing necessary support to mitigate the disaster’s effects.
“My heart goes out to the people and government of Borno State as they grapple with the profound economic repercussions of this disaster,” he added.
He also called on the public to follow government guidelines, particularly regarding evacuation from flood-prone areas, to minimize further harm to lives and property during this challenging period.
