KEY POINTS
- Maiduguri experiences its most severe flooding in three decades.
- Vice President Shettima calls for urgent action to address climate change.
- Thousands of residents are displaced as efforts to provide relief intensify.
The Borno State capital, Maiduguri, has been flooded in what the authorities are calling the worst flooding in three decades.
The heavy rains have led to havoc, with many families being forced out of their homes and major sections of the city flooded. As stated by Vice President Kashim Shettima, this flooding has been unprecedented in the last 30 years and therefore sad and exigent.
The floods that have been attributed to weather change and climate change have overwhelmed the local infrastructure. Some roads are no longer accessible, some houses are flooded, and many families have been left with no other option than to live in tents. The Vice President, who is from Borno State, noted that these floods are a result of climate change, which has been on the increase in the region.
In an interview with reporters, Shettima said he was worried by the humanitarian situation in Maiduguri. ‘This flooding is a wake-up call’, he said, calling on both national and international actors to redouble efforts to tackle the climate impacts that are affecting northern Nigeria.
Many people left homeless as relief operations step up
The floods have affected more than 10,000 people and most of them are still struggling to get food, water, and other essential commodities. Non-governmental organizations and governmental organizations are trying their best to deliver emergency assistance but the magnitude of the disaster has stretched the available resources.
There are camps all over the city, but these are becoming full very fast. The Nigerian Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations are therefore appealing to both the government and other international organizations to increase support.
As reported by Tribune Online, the flooding has also elicited concern about the sustainability of infrastructure in Maiduguri. Most of the roads, bridges and buildings have been affected and the exercise of repairing them may take billions of naira. The government has promised to source for funds to support reconstruction but it will take some time, maybe months or years for the city to be back on its feet.
Climate change is real and the time for action is now.
The statement by Vice President Shettima is particularly made at a time when climate change is becoming evident in different parts of Nigeria. In the recent past, northern Nigeria has been experiencing more severe weather conditions such as droughts and now devastating floods. These patterns are not only causing displacement of people but also undermining food security and economic stability in the region.
Shettima stressed the importance of addressing the issue of climate change and the need to take action to reduce the effects of climate change such as better planning and enhanced structures. He urged the international community to support Nigeria with technical and financial resources to enhance the country’s climate resilience.
However, the current crisis is severe and it is possible that with concerted effort the region can be brought back to life. Shettima’s optimism is in the possibility of international cooperation and domestic changes that may prevent Maiduguri and other similar areas from experiencing similar disasters in the future. ‘We have to draw lessons from this tragedy,’ he said. This is the message that has been passed on to us, “If we act now, we can avoid future disasters. ”
