50% of flooded homes in Maiduguri now dry – Borno government

The Borno State Government has announced that over 50% of the homes affected by the recent flooding in Maiduguri have now dried and are ready for reoccupation. 

During a press briefing on flood disaster management and recovery efforts, Prof. Usman Tar, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Internal Security provided this update.

The flooding, which occurred two weeks ago, submerged 70% of the capital city following a breach in the Alau Dam spillway, causing widespread destruction to lives and property. Many displaced residents had sought refuge in relief camps.

Prof. Tar noted that a significant number of displaced individuals are now leaving the camps to return to their homes. He further explained that the distribution of cash, food, and non-food palliatives would now be directed to flood victims in their homes rather than in relief camps.

“Over 50% of the flooded homes have dried, and we expect more homes to follow in the coming days,” he said, adding that humanitarian organisations and NGOs are encouraged to shift their focus to directly supporting affected households in their communities.

He acknowledged that while recovery efforts are underway, the rapid assessment of affected households has been challenging due to the scale of destruction and the complexities in accessing some of the most severely impacted areas.

The state government’s efforts have brought a sense of optimism as residents begin to rebuild their lives following the devastating floods.