In 1975, Fela Anikulapo Kuti and his Africa 70 Band released a hit song with the title “Water No Get Enemy”, and in the song, he listed the various uses of water which include for washing, cooking, bathing, drinking, and so much more, which makes it a friend to all.
However, if one were to ask residents of Maiduguri and other parts of Borno State about their relationship with water today, they’ll likely declare it an enemy because of the devastation it has wreaked in the state, rendering many residents homeless.
Residents of the state capital and environs woke early on Tuesday to find that their houses had been submerged by water.
The flooding followed the collapse of Alau Dam which according to reports, has been at full capacity for weeks.
Affected communities according to reports include Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin.
It is often said that thunder does not strike twice in the same place but in the case of Maiduguri, it has done just that.
In September 1994, which was 30 years ago, the walls of Alau Dam situated in Alau community of Konduga local government area of Borno State in the Northeast region of Nigeria, broke, devastating the city and residents, with nearly half of the town submerged.
Alau Dam, an important water resource for Maiduguri, was constructed between 1984 and 1986. According to Wikipedia, it impounds a major reservoir on the Ngadda River, one of the tributaries of Lake Chad.
The inflow of water into Alau and Jere Bowl depends mainly on the natural inflow of the Ngadda River, which is seasonal. The Ngadda River is a tributary of the larger River Yedseram, which originates in the Hudu Hills east of Mubi and flows northwest to Lake Chad. During the wet season, the Yedseram River contributes a massive inflow of water into the Ngadda River, which then flows into Alau and Jere Bowl.
However, during years of low rainfall, the Yedseram River does not contribute as much water to the Ngadda River, and the inflow into Alau and Jere Bowl can be significantly reduced.
The Alau Dam was constructed to provide water for irrigation and domestic use in Maiduguri. The dam also helps to control flooding in the area.
Unfortunately, however, the dam has also been the cause of flooding in some cases.
In 1992, the dam reached its maximum shortage level and spilled over, causing flooding in Jere Bowl. In 1994, a flash flood from the Yedseram River caused extensive flooding in Maiduguri and in 2012, torrential rainfall caused the Alau Dam to open its evacuation valve, releasing a massive amount of water that caused flooding in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.
The 1994 flood incident was attributed to heavy rainfall between September 12 and 13 and affected several towns in northern Nigeria.
A communication from DHA -GENEVA 94/0379, with the details “NIGERIA – FLOODS
DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO. 2” and dated 27 SEPTEMBER 1994, read: “LARGE NUMBER O F PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED AND MADE HOMELESS. GOVT REPORTED OVER 400,000 DISPLACED/HOMELESS PERSONS, OF WHICH 180,000 ARE IN IMMEDIATE NEED FOR ACCOMMODATION.
“ MOST SEVERELY AFFECTED IS MAIDUGURI, CAPITAL OF BORNO STATE. IN MAIDUGURI, FLOODS DESTROYED LARGE NUMBER OF MUD HOUSES, WASHING AWAY NEARLY ALL PERSONAL BELONGINGS OF STRICKEN RESIDENTS. PAVED ROADS WERE DESTROYED, CUTTING CRITICAL COMMUNICATION ROUTES. POULTRY AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION, FARMLANDS AND PLANTED CROPS WERE SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. DAMAGE IS MOST SERIOUS AMONG POOREST SEGMENT O F MAIDUGURI POPULATION, WHOSE ECONOMIC MEANS HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED. CONTAMINATION OF WATER IS THREATENING HEALTH SITUATION. THERE IS IMMEDIATE SHORTAGE OF SAFE DRINKING WATER.”
The correspondence further indicated that: “FEDERAL AND STATE GOVTS HAVE PLEDGED FOOD AND SHELTER SUPPORT. GOVT TECHNICAL REVIEW TEAM, LED BY FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (FEPA), IS WORKING ONASSESSMENT REPORT.
“GOVT HAS APPEALED FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE, NOTABLY AT LOCAL LEVEL. URGENT DIRECT HELP IS NEEDED FOR FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING, BLANKETS AND MATTRESSES, PURE WATER, MEDICINE, AND WATER-BORNE DISEASES TREATMENT. FEPA IS COORDINATING ASSISTANCE.
“ON 13 SEPTEMBER, PERSISTENT HEAVY RAINS BURST ALAU DAM, 20 KM AWAY FROM BORNO STATE CAPITAL, MAIDUGURI, CAUSING SEVERE FLOODING IN SEVERAL TOWNS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA. IN ADDITION TO BORNO, FLOODING AFFECTED OTHER STATES IN NORTHERN NIGERIA, INCLUDING KEBBI, KADUNA, SOKOTO, KATSINA, KOGI, KWARA, AND PLATEAU, AS WELL AS NEIGHBOURING CAMEROON. SEVERE LANDSLIDE IS REPORTED IN ABIA STATE.
“A LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED AND MADE HOMELESS. AS OF 20 SEPTEMBER, SOME 7 HAVE BEEN REPORTED DEAD. MOST OF EASTERN PART OF MAIDUGURI IS COVERED BY WATER. IN KEBBI, MORE THAN 60,000 FAMILIES WERE MADE HOMELESS. IN LAFIA TOWN IN PLATEAU STATE, DAMAGE TO CROPS AND PROPERTY AMOUNTED TO SEVERAL MILLIONS OF NAIRA.”
Following the flood, the Borno state government has warned residents to beware of crocodiles, snakes and other deadly animals washed away by flood.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ali Don Best, general manager of the Borno State Museum Park, said the flood washed away deadly animals into communities.
“The General manager Borno State Museum Park wishes to announce that the recent flood disaster has disrupted and caused damage to properties and loss of lives of more than 80% of the animals,” the statement reads.
“In this devastating period of flood disaster, the General manager wishes to also announce that some deadly animals have been washed away into our communities. Animals like crocodiles and snakes.
“We are calling on the general public to be aware and take all the necessary precautionary measures to avoid these animals.
“With regret, sense of concern and responsibility, the General manager wishes to ensure safety and protection for the remaining living things within his jurisdiction.”
A counter-insurgency publication focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, also said wild animals have been displaced from the Sanda Kyarimi Zoological Park in Maiduguri.
The publication asked residents to exercise caution when wading through pools of water.
In a statement on Tuesday, Usman Tar, the state commissioner for information and internal security, issued a flooding alert, urging the immediate evacuation of those living along the river banks.
Tar also urged residents of the affected areas to follow evacuation routes to ensure safe passage.
Director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Zubaida Umar, confirmed that one of the spillways of Alau Dam collapsed, leading to a significant increase in water flow downstream and exacerbating the flooding in surrounding areas
According to him, “In response to the unfortunate flooding situation in the Maiduguri metropolis of Borno State, which started last weekend and increased in the early hours of Monday, 9th September 2024, resulting from excess waters from the Alau Dam, we have begun the evacuation of residents of the affected communities and working on provision of food, shelter, and medical assistance.”
