Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, visited Ngala Local Government Area on Sunday to assess the damage caused by flooding in the region.
Gamboru Ngala, a market town located on the shores of Lake Chad near the Cameroon-Nigeria border, was severely impacted by the flooding.
Governor Zulum also distributed relief items to victims who had been cut off from access due to the heavy rain and flooding that had persisted for nearly four months.
The governor traveled to Ngala on Saturday, spent the night there, and expressed his sympathy to the affected community. He reassured them that his administration, in collaboration with the federal government, would implement necessary solutions to prevent future occurrences.
“Gamboru Ngala, headquarters of Ngala Local Government, was cut off from the rest of the country for about four months as a result of this year’s flood and heavy rainfall.”
“We came to examine the extent of damage and look into the possibility of supporting the victims. You can see a greater percentage of the town is submerged in water. However, I still want to appeal to the people to desist from building houses on waterways.”
“The situation is very obnoxious and both the federal and state governments will look into the possibility of supporting them. Most importantly, the town cannot be accessed, thereby cutting the community from food supply. So during our visit, we will also distribute food items donated to the state by the federal government.”
“We will also examine the situation and see how we can address the flooding issues here. We will take some immediate measures and ensure medium and longer-term solutions are implemented to prevent future occurrences.
The governor was accompanied by a member of the House of Representatives, Engr Bukar Talba, a member of the House of Assembly representing Ngala, Alh: Bukar Abatcha and the Commissioner for Local Government and Emirates Affairs, Sugun Mai Mele.
Others include Bukar Mustapha Dalatu, a Former member of the House of Assembly, and Dr Mohammed Barkindo, the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), among other senior government officials and political party members.
