President Bola Tinubu visited Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Monday to sympathize with victims of the recent flood disaster. The floods, caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam, have claimed at least 30 lives and displaced over 400,000 residents.
Tinubu arrived at 3:40 p.m. local time and immediately headed to an emergency camp where he assured the displaced victims of the flood of government support. “I want to assure you that we are going to support you, we will support you. God bless you,” Tinubu said.
Despite heavy rain, Tinubu visited the Shehu of Borno, a respected traditional ruler in the region, whose role combines cultural, spiritual, and administrative leadership. At the Shehu’s palace, Tinubu expressed his condolences in a written statement: “My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in the catastrophe.”
The President was accompanied by Senate President Godswill Akpabio and other high-ranking officials. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State described the flood as unprecedented in 30 years and noted that rescue operations were still ongoing in inaccessible areas.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that the flood has affected 40 percent of Maiduguri, with fears that the number of displaced persons could rise to one million.
—Ezinwanne Onwuka reports for TruthNigeria from Abuja.
