Flood In Maiduguri Far Exceeded Our Estimates - Presidency ~ OsazuwaAkonedo #Borno #Emir #Kashim #Maiduguri #Shettima https://osazuwaakonedo.news/flood-in-maiduguri-far-exceeded-our-estimates-presidency/10/09/2024/ #Issues Published: September 10th, 2024 Reshared: September 10, 2024 11:39 pm Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the floody situation in Maiduguri,
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00:00Federal Government of Nigeria has said that the flooding situation in Maiduguri, the Borneu
00:05State capital by far exceeded the estimates of the government, describing the current
00:10natural disaster in Northern State as the worst case since decades in the history of
00:15Nigeria.
00:16Vice President Khashim Shetiman made this known on Tuesday when he visited Borneu State
00:21to carry out spot assessments of the level of damages and remedial actions to the flood
00:26disaster in the state capital, Maiduguri, which numbers of houses, roads, bridges and
00:33public buildings including zoos have been submerged by floodwater caused by the collapse
00:38of the Alau Dam.
00:39Vice President Khashim Shetiman said, I am deeply devastated by the flood that has engulfed
00:45Maiduguri and its environs.
00:48My heart goes out to the families who have tragically lost their homes and livelihoods
00:53in this calamity.
00:55Our grief is shared, but so is our resolve to offer support and comfort as you begin
01:01to recover from this disaster.
01:03Now, more than ever, we are compelled as a nation to come together to overcome the losses
01:09suffered and we are committed to finding lasting solutions to this recurring issue.
01:15The flood, which began over the weekend and worsened in the following days, was the direct
01:20result of excess water from the Alau Dam.
01:25The collapse of the spillways unleashed a significant surge of water downstream, causing
01:29widespread flooding in the surrounding communities.
01:32As we speak, efforts are ongoing to evacuate and resettle residents in the affected areas
01:39while ensuring the provision of food, shelter and medical assistance until the situation
01:45stabilizes.
01:46In response to our 2024 flood outlook, we had implemented comprehensive contingency
01:52plans and adopted proactive measures to mitigate potential impacts.
01:58Despite these preparations, the severity of this flood has far exceeded our estimates,
02:04marking the most catastrophic flood in Maiduguri in over three decades.
02:09The flood's unprecedented scale has presented challenges beyond our previous experiences.
02:14Nonetheless, the federal government remains determined in its commitment.
02:19As with other states facing similar crises, we will continue with the plans previously
02:25initiated in collaboration with the Bonu State Government.
02:29We are resolute in mobilizing all necessary resources to ensure the safety and support
02:34of affected persons and areas.
02:37This disaster serves as a sobering reminder of the increasing threats posed by climate
02:42change, not just globally, but particularly to regions like ours.
02:48Nigeria's vulnerability to flood disasters has been highlighted time and again, as witnessed
02:53during the devastating floods of 2012, 2018 and 2022.
03:00The factors contributing to these recurring disasters are diverse, and it is for this
03:05reason that President Bola Tinubo has developed a comprehensive roadmap to address these challenges
03:10held on.
03:12In light of data gathered by our emergency response agencies and early warning centers,
03:17the government has intensified its interventions in flood-prone areas.
03:23These areas, characterized by erratic rainfall patterns and complex river basin dynamics,
03:29have been prioritized in our flood mitigation strategies to safeguard communities, protect
03:34agricultural zones, and reinforce critical infrastructure.
03:38I would like to take this opportunity to commend the government of Bonu State for its swift
03:43and effective response to this tragic situation.
03:47I also want to acknowledge the remarkable resilience of the good people of Malibu and
03:52surrounding areas, who have demonstrated extraordinary compassion by being their neighbors' keepers.
03:59His Excellency, President Bola Tinubo, has not only expressed his deepest sympathies
04:05but has also assured that the federal government will prioritize the welfare of the affected
04:10communities.
04:12In collaboration with Governor Professor Zulong, we are determined to ensure that our mitigation
04:18and recovery efforts reach every corner impacted by this disaster.
04:22I am in my duty to oversee the implementation of comprehensive flood mitigation modules.
04:29These modules will be in line with our flood outlook reports, which are informed by historical
04:34data, climate forecasts, and hydrological modeling to provide a clear path forward in
04:41managing the varying degrees of flood risks across different regions and timelines.
04:47We will overcome this tragedy as long as our resolve remains strong, as long as we remain
04:52united, as long as we remain compassionate, and as long as we prioritize strategic actions
04:59to emerge from this even stronger than ever.