Maiduguri faces severe flooding, with 414,000 displaced and 30 dead after the Alau Dam overflowed. The Nigerian government and state authorities are mobilizing relief efforts.

Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, is grappling with devastating flooding, resulting in the displacement of approximately 414,000 people and at least 30 fatalities.

The flood, triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam following heavy rains, is reported to be the worst in 30 years, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Also read: Residents stranded as flood washes away Oyo bridge

The flood has wreaked havoc across the city, submerging about 70% of Maiduguri, including key locations such as the Shehu of Borno’s palace, state secretariat, post office, and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.

Significant damage has also been reported at the Sanda Kyarimi Park zoo, where 80% of animals perished.

In response to the disaster, President Bola Tinubu has called for immediate evacuation of flood-affected areas, while Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Maiduguri for an on-the-ground assessment.

The Federal Government has allocated N3 billion for relief and rehabilitation efforts, focusing on providing food, essential supplies, and long-term support.

Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has reported that over a third of Maiduguri is flooded, affecting more than one million people. The state government is distributing cash and food to displaced persons and is conducting search and rescue operations.

Inmates who escaped from the Maiduguri correctional facility due to flood damage are being pursued, with three recaptured so far. The Nigeria Correctional Service is actively assessing the situation.

Residents affected by the floods, including those sleeping on roads, have expressed mixed feelings about the relief efforts and the conditions in IDP camps. Reports indicate that water levels are receding in some areas, bringing hope for recovery.

The floods have also impacted other regions, including Yenagoa in Bayelsa State, where neighborhoods are submerged, and the Benue State government is addressing snake bite incidents in IDP camps.

Vice President Shettima highlighted the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with all states to address flooding and other natural disasters, underscoring the approval of N3 billion for each state to tackle these challenges.

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors has directed its members to resume work on Monday ( today) following a seven-day nationwide warning strike embarked upon by its members over the abduction of their colleague, Dr Ganiyat Popoola.

Popoola was kidnapped eight months ago.

Also read: Makinde approves immediate recruitment of doctors, nurses, others

NARD, however, said it would review the Federal Government’s commitment to resolving its demand in the next three weeks.

NARD began a seven-day warning strike last Monday to press for the rescue of Popoola, a registrar in the Department of Ophthalmology at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna.

She was abducted on December 27, 2023, along with her husband and nephew.

While her husband was released in March, Popoola and her nephew remain in captivity.

The Federal Government, on Thursday, said it would invoke the ‘no work, no pay’ policy for the striking resident doctors.

But the doctors said they were unmoved by the threat.

Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, the NARD President, Dr Dele Abdullahi, said, “We are suspending the strike now. We will be meeting to review the progress the government has made in the next three weeks.

“We are resuming on Monday, September 2, 2024, at 8 am. The engagement of the government has been a little bit better. But, we are hopeful that they will sustain this current line of action.”

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) and Kano state government are set to spend N1.5 billion for the procurement of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) to combat anaemia among pregnant women in the state.

The UNICEF Kano Field Office Nutrition Specialist, Oluniyi Oyedokun, revealed this in his opening remarks during the opening ceremony of a two-day stakeholders inception meeting on scale-up MMS in Kano state, held at Hotel Seventeen, Kaduna state, on Wednesday.

Also read: Govt, UNICEF unveil plan to transform Nigeria’s water, sanitation sector

According to Oluniyi, while Kano will commit N500 million, UNICEF will match it up with N1 billion as part of its support to eradicate the syndrome of anaemia among pregnant women in the state.

He commended Kano state Governor, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf for ordering the immediate release of the counterpart fund, assuring that UNICEF on its part, remained ever ready to make the N1 billion matching fund available for the immediate procurement of MMS to better the lives of pregnant women in Kano who are mostly vulnerable to anaemia due to malnutrition.

Oluniyi described MMS as, “the most essential and common solution to amaemic pregnant women globally.

” Our policy makers should know that MMS is very important. They should make haste to release funds for the procurement of MMS to save the lives of the pregnant women and the generations unborn.”

He expressed optimism that Kano state would be the first to implement child nutrition fund in Nigeria, while commending Governor Yusuf for the express approval of the release of the N500 million MMS counterpart fund.

Oluniyi urged all stakeholders to look at the prevention of anaemia in pregnancy holistically, from the perspective of social behavioural change, creating enabling environment for MMS acceptability and intervention, and the needed roles government and policy makers should play in preventing anaemia among pregnant women.

He revealed that the MMS intervention campaign is being sponsored by Bill and Melinda Foundation, adding that only five states in Nigeria, including Kano are currently benefiting from the project.

Oluniyi appreciated the efforts of Kano state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf and and the Director of Public Health in the Ministry, Dr. Imam Wada Bello, in championing the cause of MMS intervention and other issues concerning the welfare and health of women and children in the state.

“Since he assumed office as the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf has made UNICEF and other partners proud. He has changed the narratives. He is always quick to listen and act on issues concerning children and pregnant women. We also appreciate the efforts of Dr. Imam Wada Bello for making this meeting possible,” he added.

In his address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Labaran Yusuf, who was represented by the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Shehu Sani Shehu, thanked UNICEF and other partners for their prompt intervention to Kano state government, particularly, on issues concerning primary healthcare for children and pregnant women.

“We appreciate UNICEF and other partners, partnering with Kano state government to ensure that we overcome all health challenges, particularly, the growing anaemia among under-five age children and pregnant women.

” It is said that when you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It is my believe that this very important meeting will help us overcome the challenges of anaemia and malnutrition in Kano state.”

The Commissioner further revealed that arrangements have been concluded to release the N500 million MMS intervention fund as directed by Governor Yusuf.

In his remarks, the Director-General, Kano State Primary Healthcare Management Board, Dr. Muhammad Nasiru Mahmoid, who was represented by the Director of Family Health Services in the Board, Dr. Ahmed Tijjani Habib, said effective MMS intervention will improve reduction in mortality rate among pregnant women.

He commended UNICEF and other development partners for their resilience towards ensuring that Kano benefit substantially from the MMS intervention.

Dr. Mahmoud hoped that the objectives of the meeting which include: to share the concept and deliverable of the BMGF funded MMS scale-up project to state level stakeholders in Kano state, will be achieved.

He also listed other objectives of the meeting to include: outlining and agreeing on the roles and responsibilities of partners; identifying enabling environment for leveraging government resources for procurement of MMS; and developing work-plan and agree on modalities of implementation.

Dr. Imam Wada Bello, in his presentation entitled: “Nutrition Landscape Situation In Kano,” lamented what he described as, “severe acute malnutrition rate among pregnant women and under-five age children in Kano state.

“Everything starts from that woman getting pregnant! Is she malnourished? Is she actually prepared for the pregnancy? Pregnant women ought not to be anaemic. We preach exclusive breastfeeding, but the question is this: where will the nourished milk come from if the nursing mother is anaemic?” he queried.