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What You Should Know About Maiduguri Flood

Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, was hit by severe floods with the collapse of the Alau Dam Tuesday morning after torrential rainfalls in the region.
Below is a list of what we know about the flood
Alau Dam
The Alau Dam which is located in the Jere Local Government Area, some 20km away from the metropolis, broke out on Tuesday morning causing flooding along the riverine areas including major roads, zoos, schools, hospitals and other public facilities.
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, blamed the flood on the overflow of Alau Dam which was caused by the release of water from other dams in Cameroon.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has described the flood as unprecedented.
“It is an unprecedented incident,” NEMA spokesman Ezekiel Manzo told AFP on Tuesday. “Some of the central parts of the city that have not witnessed flood in so many years are witnessing it today.”
History Repeating Itself?
30 years ago, Maiduguri experienced a flood which the people of Borno tagged “Ambaliya”. The flood ravaged a lot of communities and businesses. And 30 years after, another flood rocked the state as a result of explosion from the Alau dam.
But this time around, the United Nations Human Rights Refugee Council (UNHCR) and residents of the Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) described the flood as the city’s worst experience when compared to the flood that swept the city in 1994.
“NE Nigeria’s humanitarian hub, Maiduguri, faces its worst flood in 30 years after the Alau Dam overflowed. Homes are submerged, schools shut down & businesses crippled as people evacuate with their belongings,” the refugee council said on its X handle.
Over One Million Displaced
According to the governor, over one million people have been displaced by the devastating floods.
A lot of these people have had to flee their homes to dry lands thus seeking refuge in Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) Camps located along the western hemisphere of the metropolis.
NEMA and other humanitarian bodies are working tirelessly to rescue those who are still trapped in their homes as well as provide shelter for those who have been evacuated.
80% Animals Dead
The Sanda Kyarimi Zoo Park was also not spared from the floods as some wild animals have escaped from captivity.
According to the General Manager of the Zoo, Ali Abatcha, 80 per cent of the animals in the zoo have been killed by the flood while others have escaped into the city.
Footage circulating on social media shows an ostrich walking one of the streets of Maiduguri. There are reports that snakes and crocodiles have also been seen moving in the flood.
Over 280 Inmates Escape Detention
Over 280 inmates have escaped from the Maiduguri Medium Security Custodial Centre located in the Abaganaran area after severe flooding submerged the prison. The flood breached security barriers and weakened the structure leading to a jailbreak.
Authorities and residents have expressed concern that many of the escapees are highly dangerous thus posing a threat to public safety.
Nevertheless, a statement from the spokesman for the service, Umar Abubakar, disclosed that the federal government is working to evacuate the correctional centre.
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FCT minister, Wike gives land allotees 21 days to pay or lose offer

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has given land allottees 21 days to pay all statutory Right of Occupancy (R of O) bills and charges or lose the offer.
Mr Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and Social Media to the FCT Minister, disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Friday.
Olayinka explained that the measure was part of the broad and comprehensive reforms on land administration in the FCT, approved by the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.
He said that the reforms, which would become operational from April 21, covers specific areas like conditions of grant of statutory R of O, and contents of the statutory R of O bill.
Others, he said, would include contents of Letter of Acceptance/Refusal of offer of grant of R o O, titling of mass housing and sectional interests, as well as regularisation of area council land documents.
He explained that the crux of the sweeping reforms in the FCT land administration would ensure the regularisation of land allocations in area councils and title of mass housing properties in favour of buyers.
He added that the land allottees were also expected to develop allocated lands within two years.
Olayinka noted that before now, deadline for payment of bills, rents, fees and charges were not specified in the statutory R of O bill, with no penalty for failure to make payment promptly.
According to him, the non-collection of R of O and non-payment of bills has caused delay in revenue generation due to the FCTA.
“It has also caused slower pace of infrastructural development and promote sustained land speculation and racketeering.
“Also, huge expenses have been incurred by the FCT Administration through repeated advertisements and publications notifying the public on the need for collection of R of O and timely payment of bills and charges.
“Consequently, as against the unspecified period within which to collect the R of O and make full payment of the bills and charges, land allottees now have 21 days from the date of offer to make full payment of all bills, fees, rents and charges prescribed on offers, and submit a duly completed letter of acceptance alongside evidence of payments or lose the offer.”
The spokesman added that FCTA had equally given land allottees two years from the date of the commencement of the R of O to erect and complete development on any land granted in the FCT.
This, according to him, is against the lengthy or unspecified period within which to develop allocated lands.
“Therefore, any R of O bills and other payments made outside the stipulated 21 days shall be considered invalid while any land granted should be developed within two years,” he said.
Also, the Director of Land Administration, FCTA, Chijioke Nwankwoeze, said this was the first time the Administration had reviewed its land administration to improve efficiency.
Nwankwoeze said that with this development, allottees would no longer hold their R of O in their house and assumed they owned a land in FCT.
He said that beginning from April 21, any offer of R of O must be paid for within 21 days of offer to validate acceptance.
“So, acceptance of the offer of statutory R of O in the FCT is now tied to payments of the accompanied bills,” he said.
The director of land also said that for lands allocated in the area councils, the allottees would be expected to make all payments within 60 days.
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OERAF Holds Memorial Lecture on the Benefits of Debate Competitions for Students in Ughelli

The Executive Director of Olotu and Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete Foundation (OERAF), Dr. Olotu Otemu Akpodiete, held a memorial lecture on the benefits of debate competitions for students in Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The event took place, April 10, 2025, in honor of the remembrance of the passing of his grandfather, the late Chief Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete, Ph.D.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Olotu Akpodiete encouraged the students to take their academic activities very seriously, assuring them that his foundation would continue to provide support for quality education in Nigeria.
Olorogun Dr. Chris Oharisi, Chairman of the Board of Governing Council at Delta State College of Health Science and Technology, Ofuoma-Ughelli, who chaired the occasion, advised the students to be optimistic.
He emphasized the importance of debate to students, stressing that it helps them excel in public speaking.
On his part, Mr. Samson Obor, Principal of Government College Ughelli, thanked the organizers (OERAF) for their good work and encouraged the students to take their studies seriously.
He added that the importance of debate can never be overemphasized.
Presenting the lecture, Olorogun (Mrs.) Grace Akpodiete highlighted several benefits of debate for students.
She mentioned four major benefits: academic benefits, personal benefits, career benefits, and life skills benefits.
She concluded that by participating in debate competitions, students can develop a wide range of skills that benefit them academically, personally, and professionally.
During her speech about the life of the late Chief Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete, Barrister (Mrs.) Agboka Akpodiete-Omale highlighted his integrity and commitment to philanthropy.
She praised him as a great disciplinarian, dedicated community leader, lawyer, and known for his generosity.
Chief Dr. Linda Ikpuri, in her closing remarks, expressed satisfaction with the great job that Olotu and Ekuogbe Rowland Akpodiete Foundation is doing, assuring that she would collaborate with OERAF to build a better society.
Other highlights of the event included the presentation of cash prizes to various schools in attendance.
The schools included Lulu Schools, Government College Ughelli, Otovwodo Grammar School, Oharisi Secondary School, Transcorp Secondary School, Ekakpamre, Girls Model Secondary School, Evwreni, Divine Fire School, and Ekiugbo Grammar School.
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