PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has directed the immediate evacuation of those affected by the flood in Maiduguri, Borno state.

The president on Tuesday, September 10 expressed concern over the flooding in parts of the state while ordering the  National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist the flood victims.

In a statement issued by his special adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president described the disaster as the “worst flood in recent decades ”

“President Bola Tinubu expresses deep concern about the flooding in parts of Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.

“The worst flood in recent decades has displaced thousands of residents and affected facilities such as the Post Office and the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital,” the statement reads in parts.

He further assured the state’s governor, Babagana Umara Zulum of  support from the federal government whilst extending condolences to families that lost their means of livelihood as a result of the disaster.

“President Tinubu extends his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the State, especially to the families that have lost their means of livelihood due to the disaster triggered by the overflow of the Alau Dam.

“While relevant authorities are still assessing the damage wrought by the flood, the President calls for the immediate evacuation of people from affected areas.

“President Tinubu assures Governor Babagana Umara Zulum that the Federal Government is ready to collaborate to address the immediate humanitarian needs of the affected people. He orders the National Emergency Management Agency to assist the flood victims,” the statement read.

The ICIR reports that the flood which ravaged parts of Borno State displaced residents and destroyed their homes while also displacing animals from the museum.

The flood, which surged into the early hours of Tuesday, September 10, inundated several communities in Maiduguri and Jere Local Government Areas. Areas such as Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, Bulabulin, and communities near the Custom area were particularly hard hit.

In a chat with The ICIR, the spokesperson of the police command, Nahum Kenneth Daso, confirmed that the flood has affected other places aside from the city but said that the situation is under control.

A report by The ICIR explained that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) report on the 2024 annual flood outlook revealed that 33 out of 36 states in Nigeria have been predicted to experience a high risk of devastating flooding between July and September 2024.

NIHSA said that at least 135 local government areas (LGAs) had been mapped out as vulnerable to flooding this year.

Some affected states included Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe States.