Borno State governor, Prof Babagana Umara Zulum, has revealed that about one million people have been displaced by the flood which ravaged the state, yesterday Tuesday. The governor made this remark this morning while speaking to newsmen during distributing of cash and cooked food to displaced persons taking refuge in Bakassi camp, Maiduguri.
Zullum said Health Emergency Committee had been constituted and dispatched by the state government to arrest flood-related epidemics that might break out in Maiduguri and Jere within the metropolis that was affected by the flood.
The governor in his statement said, “You can see how water completely flooded the area, sewages were completely flooded, that means waterborne diseases would be transmitted but Insha Allah we should get over it.
“As of now, we are yet to ascertain the extent of damage, but about one fourth of the entire Maiduguri is flooded with water.
“The population affected is up to 1 million, what we are doing this morning is to provide immediate succor, which is good and non food items,” he said.
He explained that a search and rescue team has begun operations across affected communities to scout for persons that were trapped within communities.
Meanwhile, “Data would collated of affected persons, immediately” and shall be available, the governor added.
The governor disclosed that so far, he has received the sum of N3 billion flood intervention funds from the Federal Government and it would be put to use in addressing the challenges faced by the flood victims.
Accordingly, while responding to a question on the cause of the flood, the governor revealed it a multi-faced situation that compounded by climate change that led to heavy downpour being experienced this season.
He said the flood overwhelmed Alau dam, which overflowed into the city and the water volume released from Lagdo dam in Cameroon Republic that compounded to the problem.
Meanwhile, the governor has assured the general public that Alau Dam would be reconstructed and retrofitted to contain its volume, while illegal structures on waterways and flood prone locations would be demolished.