Pauline Onyibe 
The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) yesterday appealed to President Bola Tinubu to protect coastal states “from the impending flood coming from Rivers Niger and Benue, and the spate of seawater rise from the Atlantic Ocean”.
This followed Tuesday’s flooding in Maiduguri, which submerged hundreds of homes and destroyed several public and private buildings. Over 200 inmates of the Maiduguri Correctional Centre reportedly escaped after flood pulled down the wall of the facility In a statement by National Secretary Alfred Mulade, the group headed by elders’ statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, urged Tinubu to direct the concerned ministries and agencies to take immediate and decisive actions to protect the vulnerable areas.
PANDEF said: “The predicted disaster poses an existential threat to the lives, properties, and livelihoods of millions of Nigerians living in these vulnerable areas Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Rivers, Delta, and Edo states.
We, therefore, appeal to Mr. President to take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the double-ended flooding, including reinforcing and upgrading flood defenses and embankments; carrying evacuation of people living in high-risk areas; rapid deployment of emergency relief materials and aid comprehensive support for affected communities, including rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts, and urgent construction of shelters on higher grounds to provide safe temporary housing for displaced persons.
“It is important for PANDEF to stress that every minute counts and prompt attention is crucial to prevent catastrophic consequences.
We therefore urge the Federal Government to treat this existential situation with the utmost urgency and seriousness which it deserves to protect the lives of our population.” Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is in Maiduguri to assess the flood’s impact on the correctional facility.
Nevertheless, a statement from the spokesman for the service, Umar Abubakar, disclosed that the Federal Government is working to evacuate the correctional centre from which he said 286 inmates had escaped. Umar assured the public that the service is working with sister security agencies to take the necessary measures to ensure public safety.
The Federal Government has also begun the evacuation of residents of the affected communities in the flooding that has ravaged North-Eastern city. A statement by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday, said it is also working on the provision of food, shelter and medical assistance for the victims.
The unfortunate flooding situation in the Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State, which started last weekend and increased in the early hours of Monday, September 9, 2024, resulted from excess water from the Alau Dam. One of the spillways of the dam collapsed, leading to a significant increase in water flow downstream and exacerbating the flooding in surrounding areas.
The areas impacted by the incident include Shehuri, parts of the Government Residential Area (G.R.A.), Gambomi, Budum, Bulabulin, Adamkolo, Millionaires Quarters, Monday Market and Gwange. As a result, NEMA said the Borno State Government has opened up Bakassi Camp to accommodate those displaced by the flood.
“We are working, alongside the Borno State Emergency Management Agency, in providing humanitarian assistance to the distressed in the camp,” the statement read. NEMA’s response came after President Tinubu ordered the Agency to immediately swing into action, and assist the flood victims.
