Governor Zulum Revamps Disaster Response to Prevent Flooding in Borno State
By Tada Juthan
Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has revived government machinery to avert flood disasters in any part of the state.
According to him, resources are mobilised along with government machinery to mitigate the overflow of water from rivers, including Alau Dam on Bama Road.
Zulum raised the alarm on Sunday in Maiduguri while directing the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Tijjani Bukar, to activate relevant government resources and machinery to prevent any flood disasters in Maiduguri metropolis and other parts of the state.
Besides, he added that the SSG is to coordinate all the emergency responses in any part of the 27 local government areas.
He noted that the Alau dam could burst to cause flood disasters that claimed many lives and property in September 1996.
Zulum warned that the high volume of rainfall in the state could cause flood disasters along communities living on the Ngadda River banks.
Consequently, the governor directed all relevant government agencies and local councils to discharge their responsibilities.
“You’re also to regularly access the flood-prone areas,” he said, adding that the agencies should implement preventive measures, including public awareness campaigns in communities.
According to him, the public is to be conscious of the possible risks of flood disasters.
He charged residents to abide by all the directives from the government agencies on the emergency response protocols.
Zulum, therefore, directed all local councils to mobilise all relevant officials and units to conduct site assessments of flood-prone communities.
He added that the government agencies are to collaborate with relevant civil society organisations (CSOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), community and religious leaders, and other institutions.
“We’ve identified high-risk locations that are prone to flooding,” he said, noting that the agencies implement mitigation measures by constructing temporary barriers and establishing emergency evacuation routes.
Continued: “We have a standing committee to mitigate flooding, which has in the past evacuated and led to the construction of more drainages in different parts of the state.
“I have instructed more measures to avert any emergency health epidemic. We have also established the Agency for the Great Green Wall (GGW).
“We have also desilted, dredged, and constructed concrete retaining walls around River Ngadda to avert erosion that could possibly lead to flooding of Maiduguri and its environs.”
