Maiduguri Flood: Some Residents Still Trapped – Ndume

The lawmaker representing Borno South senatorial district, Ali Ndume, has called on the federal government to take urgent action to dredge communities in Borno State affected by recent flooding.

His appeal aims to facilitate the removal of water and rescue residents trapped in their homes.

In a statement issued on Monday, Ndume highlighted that many residents are still stranded in their communities, despite the extensive damage caused by the flooding.

The crisis in Maiduguri, Borno’s capital, escalated last Tuesday when the collapse of the Alau Dam led to severe flooding, resulting in fatalities, displacements, and the submergence of homes and farmlands.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has responded to the disaster by approving a ₦3 billion intervention fund to mitigate the effects of the flooding.

However, Ndume stressed that immediate dredging of the affected areas is crucial for effective rescue operations and to alleviate the suffering of those still trapped.

But days after, Senator Ndume, who donated ₦50 million to victims of the flood following a resolution by leaders from the Borno South senatorial zone to raise funds for the victims, said, “We really need to help make sure that people do not continue to suffer. Some of them have been in their houses for the last six days.

“What the federal government needs to do is to come and do the survey and get dredging equipment and get to the discharge of the Alau Dam and try to excavate the water way out so that the water can flow and go otherwise the aftermath will be more disastrous.

“Most buildings that were submerged are not strong, and if they continue to stay in water, they will collapse. Most people trapped in their communities are still there because it is only boats that the Nigerian military, other security agencies, and the state government are using to rescue people there.

“I am using this opportunity to move a motion since we are on recess for the federal government to intensify action against the plight of the victims of the insurgency.”