Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to commiserate with the government and people of the state over the devastating flood that has left thousands of residents homeless.
He assured the victims of swift government intervention to bring relief to those affected.
During his visit, Shettima revealed that President Bola Tinubu has already directed the release of 50 trucks of food items and other essential supplies as immediate relief to the victims.
The Vice President conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the ravaging floods that have displaced communities in the state.
Shettima assured Nigerians that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to tackling the challenges of perennial flooding in the country.
He disclosed that a comprehensive roadmap has been developed to address the issue head-on.
In a statement by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima described the disaster as the most catastrophic flood in Maiduguri in over three decades.
Despite implementing contingency plans and proactive measures to mitigate potential impacts, the severity of the flood has far exceeded the government’s estimates.
The Vice President commiserated with the victims, stating that President Tinubu has expressed his deepest sympathies and assured that the federal government will prioritize the welfare of the affected communities.
The flood, which began over the weekend, has worsened due to excess water from the Alau Dam and the collapse of the spillways, causing widespread flooding in surrounding communities.
Recall that earlier, President Bola Tinubu directed his Vice, Kashim Shettima to immediately visit Maiduguri, Borno, over the devastating flood in the state capital.
“I will rush to Maiduguri after this meeting with the consent of the President. The whole city has been overtaken by flood. It is not peculiar to one part of the country. We are facing these challenges right from Bayelsa to Sokoto,” Shettima disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja, at the 17th Annual Banking and Finance Conference (CIBN) with the theme, “Accelerated Economic Growth and Development: the State of play and the Way Forward.”
“Be rest assured that the President has the nation at heart and will do whatever it takes to salvage the state of affairs,” he added.
The flood in Maiduguri, triggered by the collapse of water channels at the Alau Dam, has displaced many residents and submerged residential quarters, roads, and bridges, making many areas in the metropolis inaccessible.
Strategic areas affected include parts of the Shehu of Borno Palace, Maiduguri Central Market, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, GRA, Maiduguri Zoo, College of Nursing, College of Agriculture, and School of Health Technology, among others.
Many residents were seen evacuating basic items to areas considered relatively safer, with some youths erecting sandbags to prevent water from entering their quarters.
The state government has yet to issue official figures for casualties but has ordered the closure of public and private schools for two weeks.
