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Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum has announced a significant allocation of N20 billion to address infrastructure damage caused by the devastating flood on September 10 and to assist affected victims. The flood has impacted parts of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and surrounding areas, displacing thousands of residents.
During a press briefing on Saturday at the Government House in Maiduguri, Zulum unveiled the allocation while inaugurating a committee tasked with investigating the cause of the Alau Dam’s collapse. He stated that 50 percent of the fund, amounting to N10 billion, will be dedicated to direct assistance for flood victims, aimed at helping them recover and rebuild their lives.
The governor ordered that this sum be deposited into the state’s relief account, managed by a disbursement committee comprising members from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and security agencies.
The remaining N10 billion is allocated to the state’s Ministry of Works and Housing to facilitate infrastructure reconstruction efforts. Zulum expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its unwavering support during the disaster, particularly praising President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the food aid provided by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.
The governor also acknowledged contributions from individuals, state governments, corporate bodies, and non-governmental organizations, stating, “I want to also commend everyone who has contributed to our basket fund.”
In his directives, Zulum instructed the newly formed committee to submit its findings regarding the Alau Dam’s collapse to the state government within four weeks. The 28-member committee, chaired by Engr. Abba Garba, former Managing Director of the Chad Basin Development Authority, is tasked with assessing the dam’s current status, the reasons for its failure, and the implications of its continuous outflow, which poses risks to the local economy and agricultural activities.
Zulum emphasized the urgency of addressing the dam’s ongoing outflow to ensure it fulfills its primary purpose. He urged the committee to evaluate the structural integrity of the dam, the extent of the damage, and to recommend immediate remedial actions necessary to prevent future occurrences.
In response, the committee chair expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and assured the governor that they would thoroughly analyze the situation and provide actionable recommendations within the given timeframe, acknowledging the gravity of the task at hand.
