Nigeria Maiduguri Flood: Tinubu Calls It a Natural Disaster, Says No One Is to Blame

President Bola Tinubu visited Maiduguri, declaring the recent flooding a “natural disaster” with no one to blame. The flood, caused by the collapse of Alau Dam, displaced over 400,000 residents and resulted in more than 30 deaths. Tinubu announced a disaster relief fund to aid recovery efforts.

During a visit to Maiduguri, President Bola Tinubu declared the recent floods that devastated the area a “natural disaster,” stating that no individuals should be held accountable for the calamity. This declaration follows the collapse of the Alau Dam on September 10, which has caused the most severe flooding in Borno State in three decades. The disaster has led to the displacement of over 400,000 residents and resulted in the deaths of at least 30 people.

Comparisons have been drawn to a similar flooding event in 1994, when the dam failure caused significant damage to crops and property across Borno and affected several other northern states. During his visit, Tinubu toured various sites, including the Borno government house, the Shehu of Borno palace, and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

In his address, Tinubu emphasized the importance of unity during this crisis, saying, “This disaster was a natural one. It was not the making of anybody.” He also announced plans to create a disaster relief fund, inviting private sector involvement in the reconstruction efforts for the impacted communities. The president proposed dedicating a portion of the funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to support this initiative, highlighting the need for collective action to address the aftermath of the floods. Senate President Godswill Akpabio supported the president's initiative, assuring cooperation from the national assembly in establishing the fund.