Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, has expressed concern over the influx of people who were not affected by last Tuesday’s flood into the camps designated for genuine victims. The Governor raised this issue on Monday during the flag-off of relief material distribution to those displaced by the Maiduguri flood, now residing in 36 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps.

The flood, caused by the overflowing of the Alau Dam, affected nearly 2 million people in Maiduguri and its surrounding areas. The distribution ceremony was held at Bakasi Camp along Damboa Road in Maiduguri.

Each affected individual received a 25kg bag of rice, a carton of pasta, and N10,000 in cash as part of the relief efforts. While addressing journalists, Governor Zulum lamented the challenge posed by people who were not impacted by the flood but were entering the camps, complicating the relief process.

“We have noticed that it is no longer sustainable to keep receiving people in the camps, as many who were not affected by the flood are coming into the camps,” Zulum said.

In addition to distributing relief, the governor announced plans for a comprehensive assessment of the affected areas to guide future interventions. “We have mobilized resources to ensure that each genuine victim receives the necessary relief items,” he added. “We have also finalized plans to conduct assessments in the communities to verify the actual number of those affected.”

Zubaida Umar, Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), emphasized her agency’s continued support for flood victims. She highlighted that NEMA has been providing shelter and mobile water purifiers to ensure access to clean drinking water since the disaster began.

Governor Zulum also acknowledged food donations from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, NEMA, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to assist the victims.