In response to the devastating flood that recently swept through Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, Muktar Betara, the member representing Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya/Kusar Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has donated N100 million to support the victims.
The flood, triggered by heavy rainfall and the collapse of the Alau Dam, has claimed 37 lives and displaced over 400,000 people, according to multiple reports. Betara, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), made the donation during an on-the-spot assessment of the disaster alongside Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum on Thursday.
Expressing deep sorrow over the tragedy, Betara commended Governor Zulum for his swift intervention in providing immediate relief to the affected residents.
“I wish to, on behalf of myself, my family, and the good people of Biu/Bayo/Shani/Kwaya/Kusar Federal Constituency, donate the sum of N100 million to support the affected people of Maiduguri,” Betara said.
In his address, Betara offered heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and praised the ongoing efforts to provide aid to the displaced. He noted the extensive damage caused by the flood, which has left thousands homeless and their livelihoods destroyed.
“As evident, thousands of our people were rendered homeless, and their livelihoods washed away. May Almighty Allah condole you and all of us, and grant the departed souls of our loved ones aljanah-firdaus,” he stated.
The lawmaker, who also chairs the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, pledged to advocate for further intervention at the National Assembly. Betara assured that he would bring the flood disaster to the floor of the House as a matter of urgent public importance when the assembly resumes from its annual recess.
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, provided an overview of the widespread flooding across Nigeria. She disclosed that 29 states and 172 local government areas have been impacted, affecting over 1 million people, displacing more than 625,000, and causing the death of 259 individuals.
“This unfortunate and almost unexpected incident requires coordinated response,” Umar said, adding that the disaster was not entirely unforeseen. According to the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency’s 2024 annual flood outlook, 33 states and 135 local governments were identified as high-risk flood areas from July to September, with further risks expected in 19 states and 44 local governments between October and November.
As Borno State continues to grapple with the aftermath of the disaster, Betara’s donation offers a lifeline to the victims, while the federal and state governments, alongside humanitarian agencies, work to restore normalcy and provide long-term solutions to the recurring flooding problem.