By Usman Abubakar Maiduguri
In a major effort to avert a recurrence of the September 2024 massive flood which inundated major sections of Maiduguri metropolis and Jere LGAs in Borno State, the state government is set to review the town planning of the metropolis.
The flood, last September 10, which was caused by the collapse of the nearby Alau Dam, claimed about 150 lives and displaced over a million residents of the two metropolitan LGAs.
To rehabilitate the dam, the federal government, last March, allocated N80 billion, for the reconstruction of the collapsed structures and addition of other structures aimed both at averting flooding and mitigating the impact of any occurrence.
“We will soon review the town planning of the metropolis,” Governor Babagana Umara Zulum told newsmen, shortly after inspecting the ongoing rehabilitation work at the dam, in Konduga LGA, Saturday, August 1.
The governor’s inspection followed a report last Wednesday by the contractors to him that due to the current downpours in Maiduguri and its surroundings, the water volume had risen beyond tolerable, portending grave danger for the metropolis and its surroundings.
Following the current downpours, substantial sections of Maiduguri were, last Wednesday submerged, leading to the collapse of several buildings, including a graveyard.
“While I commend you on the work you are doing, I would advise that we be very careful; let us try to be on the safer side, considering the current global warming,” Zulum told an official of the construction firm handling the rehabilitation, who had briefed him about the extent of work at the site.
“We, therefore, need the extension you have talked about because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow,” he requested. The extension, Peoples Daily learnt, is an added structure aimed at containing excess water to avert flooding.
“Our team of engineers and your own should put heads together and come up with workable recommendations to ensure that what happened before (September 2024 flood) is not repeated,” the governor warned, as he praised the contractors for their performance in the dam rehabilitation.
Expressing frustration that residents of the metropolis obstinately build on waterways and dump refuse in drainages, he issued a Stern warning that the state government would, henceforth, demolish any building erecting on waterway.
