Millions Lost When Floods Shut Down Schools, Businesses in Maiduguri

According to recent reports from Maiduguri that Channels Television has received, severe flooding has closed off Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, from the rest of the state.

As floodwaters overtook the town, our correspondents on the ground reported heartbreaking stories of animal losses and the closure of shops and educational institutions.

Further research revealed that inhabitants were living in fear since crocodiles, snakes, and other deadly animals had taken over the afflicted regions, particularly the general Monday Market area and the Post Office, which are close to Shehu Kyarimi Park (Zoo).

In addition to the Shehu’s palace, it was learned that the University of Maiduguri, its Teaching Hospital, Gwange, Moromoro, State Lowcost, the 500 Abbagana housing estate, the well-known Monday Market, Lagos Streets, the NUJ Center, and Government House were all partially submerged, displacing millions of people and destroying property valued at billions of naira.

Even as victims beg for the government to intervene on their behalf, thousands of people were reported to have left, packing up some of their possessions and moving to safer regions, such as Bulumkutu, Gomari Airport, and Tashan Baga, as of the time this article was filed.

The Borno State Government had earlier declared the closure of all public and private schools for two weeks owing to flooding that was occurring throughout the state, according to a report from Channels Television.

The Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation stated in a statement on Monday that the shutdown came about as a result of a visit to the Alo dam, a significant water reservoir that draws its water from Lake Chad.

Due to heavy rains, the Alo Dam Bank has leaked, causing flooding in most villages near rivers and other flood-prone locations.

This is how the school year 2024–2025 began on September 9, 2024.

According to a statement signed by Grema Bulama, the acting director of schools services, the SSG Bukar Tijjani visited the state capital at the request of state governor prof. Babagana Zulum to ascertain the actual condition of the dam, which has been a major source of water supply and the reason for floods in previous years.

In a related incident, the state government of Bauchi has revealed that the floods this year has badly damaged 16 local government districts inside the state and resulted in 24 deaths.

Hajara Wanka, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, reported that 122,330 homes have been forced to relocate and that 163 persons have suffered serious injuries.

Twelve important routes, mostly in the state’s northern regions, have also been closed by the floodwaters. In addition, 178 electric poles have collapsed, 52,035 dwellings have been demolished, and 60 culverts have been washed away. 11,183 livestock have also perished as a result of the floods.