By, Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
It’s a real undeniable fact that sequel to the recent unexpected highly devastating water flood in Maiduguri which unfortunately resulted in many loss of lives, and the destruction of houses, shops, properties worth billions of naira, roads, bridges, and other infrastructural facilities, no one would call the name of Maiduguri without immediately remembering the water flood under reference today.
In a press statement by Khalid Muhammad Bello the National president of KACRAN said, “We made the above assertion for the fact that it could be recalled, last two weeks Maiduguri the Capital of Borno State was seriously hit by a devastating water flood flowing an unexpected overflow of water from the Alau Dam, that Drew’s worldwide attention on the immediate need for timely intervention to save the people’s lives and properties.”
As a result, apart from the Borno State government where the incident happened, many institutions, nongovernmental organizations, Donor agencies, and Philanthropists instantly moved to Maiduguri from within and outside the country and actively partake in the gigantic rescue operation, which involved about two million people based on the official report from Borno State government.
Amongst the Institutions that played a remarkable role in the said International rescue operation, is the North East Development Commission (NEDC), under the able leadership of its Managing Director Alh Mohammed Goni Alkali, accompanied by the Commission’s management team that includes the Director of Finance and Admin Dr. Garba Aliya which as usual played both Fatherly and Motherly role by donating a substantial amount to the tune of N3billion naira and large quantity of food items to support the victims of the flood disaster and Small businesses owners affected by the incident.
The Commission also embarked on the reconstruction of bridges affected by the water flooding in Taraba, Yobe, Bauchi, and Adamawa, in addition to the routine maintenance of most of the dilapidated roads that link the sixth North Eastern States.
In the same vein, as part of its ongoing commitments, it has graciously done a lot to elevate the people’s suffering caused by the insurgency, water flooding, and other unforeseen natural/man-made disasters.
It has promised to be involved in the rehabilitation of the affected facilities as well as attending to environmental issues like cleaning the town and WASH intervention.
We also commend NEDC for the reason that, for more than two weeks now, starting from the Commission’s members of the management board who are busy visiting the side of the places where water flooding took place, the Borno State governor and some key Royal Highnesses making heavy fulfilled promises and its staff who day and night sacrifice their lives in rescuing the people who were trapped by the water flood and were giving the first aid support.
Another appreciable role NEDC is playing in some cities and major towns of the region to avoid water flooding is cleaning the drainages to allow water to move freely without going into people’s houses or shops.
Once more, KACRAN wishes to express its deepest appreciation to NEDC, the highly committed members of its management board, and its workaholic staff for proving to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, people of North East, Nigerians, and the world in general that they are capable to transparently rebuild/develop not only North East but Nigeria at a whole, hence the need to Federal government to give them more financial support to continue with their good work of improving the life standard of the people of North East, giving continuous support to our security operative which has greatly assisted in removing the name of North East as the number one region faced by insecurity challenges in the country and coming to the aid of people of the region at any particular time of need..
KACRAN also wants to immensely thank NEDC for rebuilding the culverts and bridges that were destroyed by water flooding in the region, the reconstruction of which relinked our people who mainly live in the bushes and weekly use to move from one market to another for selling their goods and buying what they rely on for their survival.
Similarly, KACRAN wants to extend its commendation to Mr, President, His able Vice Senator Kashim Shettima, the iron governor of Borno State Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, governors of various States of the federation who paid a courtesy visit to Maiduguri, National and international Donor agencies, philanthropists and other leaders in the country who went to Maiduguri to sympathize and commensurate with the good people of Maiduguri over the water flood which had affected nearly half of Maiduguri town.
Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni, who led a strong delegation to Maiduguri and donated money and food items on his behalf and Yobe State Government and also directed the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) under the able leadership of its Executive Secretary, Dr Mohammed Goje to immediately relocate to Maiduguri with their working tools to actively participate in the Maiduguri rescue operation is a wisely, friendly and brotherhood administration’s decision that deserve highest commendation and multiple applaud.
KACRAN’S special commendation to Governor Buni does not mean He or Yobe State are the major Donors in the Maiduguri water flood incident, but rather due to the uniqueness of his intervention, because to KACRAN’S knowledge, this is the first time in the history of Nigeria when a whole SEMA with its entire operational team might completely move to another State for rescue operations.
Moreover, we want to use this medium to thank and highly recommend the Chief Managing Director of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Professor Ahmad Ahijo, who expertly, skillfully, experienced, and administratively handled the most dangerous issue of the water flooding into the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, by furiously evacuating the Hospital Patients to upstairs to rescue their lives from the dangerousness of the water flooding which killed several healthy people in the Maiduguri and its environs and thanks to Almighty Allah non of the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital Patients were reported death as a result of the flooding, which is a great achievement to him and the entire management staff of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.
Preventing people from approaching the places where expensive Machines that use nuclear energy are to avoid any affection from radiation that comes out from the nuclear machines in case of any leakage and inviting experts in nuclear science to come to Maiduguri to assess the health/effectiveness of the said Nuclear Machines is another breakthrough to be reckoned with by the CMD because even in Europe, the United States of America or any developed nation in the world this is the highest stage of expertise.
In conclusion, on behalf of the entire members of KACRAN in Borno State, who are among the people affected by the water flood in Maiduguri, KACRAN wishes to sympathize and commensurate with the people of Maiduguri over the water flooding, and ardently pray for Allah’s forgiveness to the people who lose their lives during the said sad water disaster.