Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, on Tuesday, has officially launched the distribution of relief materials to nearly two million victims affected by the recent flooding in Maiduguri, caused by an overflow from Alau Dam.
The flood severely damaged homes and infrastructure, prompting the state government to deploy a rapid-response team to assess and address the destruction in phases.
Governor Zulum announced that the initial distribution would focus on 5,235 households in Gwange 1, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, where 587 homes were completely destroyed, 2,365 experienced minimal damage, and 2,283 were partially affected.
Households with minimal damage will receive N100,000, along with essential items such as rice, beans, mats, blankets, and mosquito nets. Those with severe losses will receive compensation proportionate to the extent of their destruction. The state government has secured at least N17 billion in monetary donations and pledges for relief efforts.
During the launch, Zulum expressed gratitude to the Nigerian Government, other state governments, UN agencies, development partners, and individuals for their support in responding to this disaster.
In a related development, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) conducted a comprehensive mop-up operation across several markets in Maiduguri to remove drugs and food items contaminated by recent floodwaters. This initiative aimed to prevent the re-introduction of these items into the market, safeguarding public health against potential disease outbreaks.
NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, noted that the operation targeted the Gamboru drug and food market, Monday market, Open Air Theatre drug market, and Gwange drug market. Following reports that contaminated drugs were washed and sun-dried for resale, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, ordered the immediate closure of the affected markets for a thorough inspection.
The agency reported that compromised items valued at over N5 billion were removed during the operation, with guidelines provided to market vendors and the public on identifying and handling potentially contaminated products in the future.
All manufacturing facilities in flood-affected areas have been closed until good manufacturing practices can be reassessed.
NAFDAC remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of Nigerians by enforcing rigorous standards for food and drug products, and continues to monitor the situation in Maiduguri closely. The agency urges the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or compromised products to the nearest NAFDAC office.
