President Bola Tinubu has described the recent flooding in Maiduguri, which displaced over 400,000 residents and claimed more than 30 lives, as a “natural disaster” that no one should be blamed for, Okay.ng reports.
The president made the statement during a visit to Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, on Monday.
His visit follows the devastating collapse of the Alau Dam on September 10, which caused the worst flooding in the region in over 30 years.
“This disaster was a natural one. It was not the making of anybody,” Tinubu said in a statement released by his special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“We cannot pass the blame. We pray that the Almighty Allah will receive the souls of the departed and grant them eternal rest.”
The president reflected on the long-term impacts of climate change and emphasized the need to find solutions to prevent future disasters.
He also expressed his condolences to the victims and families affected by the tragedy.
The collapse of the Alau Dam, which had been at full capacity in the weeks leading up to the flood, has drawn comparisons to a similar incident in 1994, when severe flooding destroyed crops and property across Borno and other northern states. This year’s flood is regarded as the worst in the state in three decades.
Borno State, along with other regions including Kebbi, Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina, Kwara, Plateau, and parts of Cameroon, have been severely impacted by flooding in recent years, leading to widespread displacement and destruction.
During his visit, Tinubu made stops at the Borno Government House, the Shehu of Borno’s Palace, and a camp housing internally displaced persons (IDPs). He also announced the creation of a disaster relief fund to help rebuild the affected communities and support the victims.
“There must be a disaster relief fund. I will invite the private sector to team up with us and help rebuild the affected areas,” Tinubu said.
He proposed allocating a small percentage from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to support the fund, with the goal of strengthening the nation’s response to future disasters.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied the president on the visit, pledged the support of the National Assembly in collaborating with the executive branch to establish the disaster relief fund.
