President Tinubu visits Maiduguri to commiserate with flood victims
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the recent flood disaster.
The president, who arrived in Abuja on Sunday night from London, would evaluate the impact of the flood on residential houses, hospitals, markets, schools, and other public facilities.
President Tinubu returned back to Nigeria last night after trips to UAE, China and UK and arrived at the Air Force Base in Borno, at exactly 3:20pm.
The president’s aircraft landed at the Maiduguri International Airport and was received by Governor Babagana Zulum and other government officials.
READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu, Fintiri, other govs, visit Maiduguri to sympathise with flood victims (pictures)
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said more than half of Maiduguri was submerged in water after the Alau Dam, a critical infrastructure designed to regulate water flow, provide irrigation and drinking water, overflowed its seams following heavy rainfall.
The tragedy led to the town’s worst flooding in 30 years, according to the United Nations Human Rights Refugee Council and Maiduguri Metropolitan Council residents.
According to NEMA, more than 23,000 households have been affected by the rapid rise of waters following the weekend rupture of the Alau Dam on the Ngadda River, 20km south of Maiduguri.
Neptune Prime reports that the water had receded as of Saturday morning.
The flood submerged about 70 per cent of Maiduguri metropolis and ravaged some major city locations, including the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Umar Ibn Garbai El-Kanemi; the state secretariat, post office, cemetery, correctional centre and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
The flood also washed away 80 per cent of the animals at the Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo and damaged houses, schools, as well as commercial and worship centres.
President Tinubu had earlier expressed deep concerns over the flooding and tasked relevant government agencies to expedite rescue efforts.
He also called for the immediate evacuation of residents in communities overtaken by the flood.
Proofreading and Editing by Gift Luckson and Hafsat Aleeyu Muye, Editor at Neptune Prime
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