Former leader of the Senate, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has expressed sympathy with the people and Government of Borno State, after a devastating flood submerged many homes and parts of the state capital, Maiduguri.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, Ndume who represents Borno South, called on the Federal Government to immediately intervene by giving support to the State Government to the aid of affected residents

The State Government, had raised the alarm aver severe flood that submerged many homes following the alleged breakdown of Alau Dam that has been filled to capacity for the past one week.

“Due to the unusually high volume of water this year, we urge all the residents living along the river bank to take immediate action to protect themselves and their properties.

“The Alau Dam water has broken down another channel that is currently destroying farms, and the water is heading toward the river bank,” a statement by the State Government had revealed.

Senator Ndume, who just returned from Borno, where he reached out to families affected by insurgenc in the Southern Senatorial District of the State, said he is devastated by the news report about the ravaging flood.

The former Senate Chief Whip said all hands must be on deck, including development partners and other agencies of government, to immediately mobilise and come to the aid of affected residents and homes in Maiduguri.

He said the State Government, being very proactive, has already activated all mechanisms to salvage the situation by evaluating people from affected areas and providing the needed support.

He, however, lamented that the gravity of the damage by the flooding is beyond the State Government, hence the need for the Federal Government to immediately step in and assist the residents in getting the needed support.

Already, some institutions and government agencies have shut down. University of Maiduguri has been closed until further notice

The university management announced the temporary closure in a statement on Tuesday by its registrar, Ahmad A. Lawan, the institution, sympathised with staff members and students affected by the disaster.

Ndume said: “What has happened in my dear State capital, Maiduguri is unfortunate. The level of damage is very bad. I’ve been briefed, and what I’ve heard isn’t something we should take likely.

“Homes, institutions, government agencies, and other businesses have been submerged in the flood. Many people are trapped and are trying to evacuate. I’m worried that the situation may get worse unless the federal government immediately steps in to assist the state government in salvaging the situation.

“I’m also calling on various international partners, development agencies, and men of goodwill to do something urgent before we’ll witness the kind of human disaster in Maiduguri that will be unimaginable.

“I’m in touch with my colleagues, the State Government, its officials, and other stakeholders on what we can do to solve the situation. I hope that in the future, we’ll be able to guide against this occurrence. This is a serious disaster, and we need the prayers and support of every Nigerian.”

From Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

During a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund at the Government House in Dutse, Jigawa State Governor Malam Umar Namadi disclosed that the recent flood disaster has affected over 40,000 people and claimed 28 lives.
The Governor informed his visitors that the flood has devastated 14 local government areas, displacing 8,000 people who are currently in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps. Additionally, he indicated that the disaster resulted in the collapse of over 7,500 houses and the destruction of 6,500 farmlands.

Governor Namadi expressed concern over the early onset of flooding, attributing it to the silting of dams and the release of water from dams. He urged the federal government to conduct environmental impact assessments for road constructions and other projects to prevent artificial environmental problems.

Citing the example of the Shuwari-Maiduguri federal highway construction, Governor Namadi noted that it has caused flooding in previously unaffected areas. He appealed to the committee to assess the damage and provide special assistance to the state.

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund, Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji, stated that the committee is in Jigawa to identify areas requiring special intervention to address ecological challenges. He explained that Jigawa was selected among a few states to benefit from the committee’s tour due to its significant ecological challenges.

By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse

As part of this year’s International Youth Day celebration, the Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) in partnership with United Nations Children’s Education Fund (UNICEF) has engaged hundreds of youths in massive tree planting in 3 Nigerian/Niger boarder local government areas of the state.

Speaking while launching the project at Sule-tankarkar town, the managing director of JISEPA Alhaji Adamu Sabo indicated that the agency with support from UNICEF has engaged hundreds of youths in Babura, Maigateri and Suletankarkar local government areas of the state in planting and maintenance of the trees.

Alhaji Sabo explained that, 3 frontline local government areas of deforestation and desertification including Sule-tankarkar, Maigatari and Babura have been selected and their youths engaged for massive tree planting in all the areas.

According to him, “The idea to engage youths for the tree planting project is in line with the Jigawa State Government 12 points agenda, mitigation of climate change, erosion, desertification control and observance of carbondioxide.

He stated further that “availability of trees would also provide more oxygen for human use”.

The managing director commended UNICEF for the support as he urged the youths to embrace tree planting habit by at least planting one tree in their life.

On his part, the Programme Specialist, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), UNICEF Field Office Kano, Dr. Uba Lawal said, the tree planting campaign is a key approach to mitigating the effects of Climate Change, especially in the semi-arid areas of northern Jigawa where deforestation has severely affected the region.

“The campaign aims to plant 1,500 trees, 900 trees have already been planted in Babura, where JISEPA and UNICEF provided different types of seedlings for both economical and non economical trees.

According to him “UNICEF is supporting Jigawa State Government by providing resources to mobilize and educate the people of Jigawa on the importance of tree planting and the role that youth will play, being the leaders of tomorrow” he said.

He urged the youths to lead in sustaining and nurturing the trees being planted as they are the foremost beneficiaries of a greener future.

“In apparent recognition of the importance of the tree planting campaign in mitigating the effects of Climate Change, the youth of Jigawa have decided to focus on tree planting to celebrate the International Youth Day” , he said.