In response to the catastrophic flooding in Maiduguri, the Presidency and the National Assembly (NASS) have formulated a series of strategies aimed at providing relief and support to the affected communities.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, emphasized the urgency of the situation during a briefing at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on September 11th, 2024.
He stated, "I am here today to commiserate with His Excellency, the Vice-President, over the devastating flooding disaster in Maiduguri. We have also designed some strategies and solutions by both the National Assembly and the Presidency to implement in the next few days to bring succour to the victims of the flood in Maiduguri."
The flood, which began over the weekend and worsened due to the overflow of the Alau Dam, has displaced thousands of residents and caused significant damage to infrastructure.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima described the floods as "the most catastrophic in decades," highlighting the federal government's commitment to mobilizing all necessary resources to support the affected individuals. He expressed his sympathies, stating, "Our grief is shared, but so is our resolve to offer support and comfort as you begin to recover from this disaster."
Governor Umara Zulum of Borno has been entrusted with the judicious distribution of the Federal Government’s ₦3 billion intervention fund. Abbas expressed confidence in Zulum's transparency, noting, "The governor of Borno, I am absolutely sure that whatever will be provided for them from the Presidency will be judiciously distributed, so I have no fear about that."
In addition to the immediate relief efforts, the government has implemented comprehensive contingency plans in response to the 2024 Flood Outlook. These measures include prioritizing flood-prone areas characterized by erratic rainfall patterns and complex river basin dynamics to safeguard communities, protect agricultural zones, and reinforce critical infrastructure.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Borno Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have opened two relief camps to accommodate displaced persons.
Furthermore, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) is working to mitigate the flood's impact on its facilities, ensuring the safe transfer of inmates to more secure locations.
The federal government has also extended palliative measures to other states affected by similar flood incidents, including Kaduna and Niger states.
Abbas mentioned, "We are also making efforts with the governor of Niger state to see what we can do by the NASS to help, and also, all the other states that are affected, we will do what we can to help."
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