President Bola Tinubu arrived in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Monday to express his condolences to the government and people following the recent flood disaster.
He landed at 3:40 p.m. and proceeded directly to one of the emergency camps to meet with the flood victims. While at the camp, President Tinubu reassured the displaced residents of the federal government’s commitment to providing assistance.
“I want to assure you that we are going to support you. We will support you. God bless you,” Tinubu said.
Accompanying the President were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, and several presidential aides.
Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was on hand to receive the President at Maiduguri Air Force Base, having inspected police facilities impacted by the flood earlier in the day. Also present to welcome the President were Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, Chairman of the Governors’ Forum; Bala Mohammed, Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum; Kogi State Governor Ahmed Ododo; and Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu.
Despite heavy rainfall in Maiduguri, President Tinubu also paid a visit to the Shehu of Borno’s palace. In the condolence register, he wrote, “My thoughts and prayers are with the families who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods in this catastrophe. I stand with the resilient people of Borno and assure you of the continuous support of the Federal Government as we work together to rebuild lives and restore hope.”
Tinubu had just returned to Nigeria the night before, following official visits to China and the United Kingdom.
Flood Impact and Casualties
Severe flooding in Maiduguri, caused by water overflowing from a dam, has claimed at least 30 lives and displaced over 400,000 people. National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) spokesman Ezekiel Manzo confirmed the death toll, while Zubaida Umar, also of NEMA, described the situation as “frightening,” with around 40 percent of the city submerged. Umar warned that the number of displaced people could reach one million.
The UN refugee agency has called the flood the worst the city has seen in 30 years.
Governor’s Response
Speaking with media on Saturday, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum said the exact number of lives lost is still unknown, as certain areas remain inaccessible. Rescue efforts are ongoing, and the governor reassured the victims that the government will continue to provide aid.
Governor Zulum also highlighted the long-standing neglect of the dam, which contributed to the disaster, and emphasized the need for reconstruction to prevent future incidents. “We have to quantify the loss of lives because there are still areas we can’t access, but the rescue mission is ongoing,” he said. “This disaster is worse than the one we experienced 30 years ago, and the dam certainly needs to be rebuilt.”
