Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum has initiated the distribution of relief materials to victims of the recent devastating flooding in Maiduguri.
The flood resulted from the Alau dam’s overflow, leading to the displacement of approximately 2 million individuals in the Maiduguri metropolis and its environs, compelling many to seek refuge in 36 camps.
The distribution of the relief materials began on Monday at Bakasi camp, located along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.
The relief package for each affected household included a 25kg bag of rice, a carton of pasta, and N10,000 in cash to help ease the burden on the flood victims.
Governor Zulum while addressing journalists at the event, expressed concerns about the growing number of people at the camps, noting that many who were not directly affected by the floods were flocking to the camps, complicating the relief efforts.
He stressed the need for better management of the influx.
‘We have observed that it is unsustainable to keep accepting people in these
camps because many who were not affected are arriving, making it difficult to provide for those truly in need,’ Zulum stated.
The Governor also announced that a comprehensive assessment of the affected areas would soon be conducted.
According to him, the evaluation will help the government identify the exact number of those displaced and guide future interventions.
‘We’ve mobilized resources to ensure each genuine victim receives relief items. Additionally, we’ve made arrangements to assess the affected communities to verify the real extent of the disaster,’ Zulum added.
Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan, representing Borno Central, commended Governor Zulum for his proactive leadership during the crisis.
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, also spoke at the event, highlighting her agency’s response to the disaster.
Zubaida said NEMA has been providing essential aid, including shelter and mobile water purification units, to ensure clean drinking water for the dis
placed families.
In addition to NEMA’s support, Governor Zulum acknowledged significant donations from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, NEMA, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
These contributions are expected to further alleviate the suffering of the flood victims.
Source: Voice of Nigeria