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One year after, the killer flood in Maiduguri, a reporter’s diary of survival moves by residents, the medical sector, coordination errors, leading to more challenges beyond the damaged Alau Dam

Published

11 months ago

September 15, 2025

One year after, the killer flood in Maiduguri, a reporter’s diary of survival moves by residents, the medical sector, coordination errors, leading to more challenges beyond the damaged Alau Dam

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Sometimes God creates Providence for mankind. We may not know the weight of His handiwork until something unusual happens and we begin to reflect and surely thank Him for the miracle that resonated with us mere mortals days or months after. Its been one year since the deadly September flood from Alau dam that devastated the Borno State capital Maiduguri. And yet the pains felt by many residents are still fresh as yesterday. Especially those whose loved ones are now part of the statistics recorded as missing or dead.

Many affected residents have moved on by relocating from the customs/ Muna water basin area while others have returned trying to pick the pieces of their lives together again in what is left of the old structure. The Alau dam tragedy has not gone away from the hearts of many residents who lost human lives which to me as a watcher of events is the most valuable of all the losses. One year on since the raging flood attack on the state capital, many residents are still counting their losses like wounds from the 15 year old insurgency.

For me, its one year of narrow escape from a devastating flood that would have consumed me if I was living in the heart of the customs area. This is because I almost paid for an accommodation few months to the flood. Only God that would have helped me because I have never swam in my life before. And even when one knows how to swim, the torrent of the raging dam water was so fast that one needed to be careful not to be swept into any of the major tributaries of nearby rivers with fixed routes to move to the dark deep abyss of nowhere.

Most residents of greater Maiduguri who spoke with this reporter in that axis said that they have never seen such devastation in their existence. The flood which rushed into town with such high velocity at the wee hours of the night of September 10 consumed a large part of Customs area right up to 505 housing estate and landing at the farm centre general area killing several vulnerable residents in its trail. It virtually encompassed the fertilizer plant and the adjoining farm centre housing estate which is currently undergoing rehabilitation by Governor Babagana Zulum. About 150 people were said to have perished in the water which took over the entire post office like an intimidating sea with all manner of dangerous snakes that escaped from the zoo. Other animals like the lion have been so caged that they refused to move out. One year after manager of the zoo, Don Best Abatcha is still raking his brain on how he would replace all those animals that were killed by the angry flood. All his customers have gone while some have relocated from the town after the flood. On a whole, sources who should know claim that about 15 percent of the city centre was submerged in water right up to post office.

How I escaped the flood

For me, I was supposed to have been in my apartment at customs that fateful day in September 2024 but the negotiations with the caretaker had gone sour and I had to dump the house for very strong reasons.

First, the place had been battered by the previous tenant and second the toilets were unkempt and needed repairs for privacy when using it. I tried to negotiate by getting him to repair the place, but he would not bulge. That to me was why I had to look elsewhere for a much more decent apartment. I actually stumbled on another at the other side of town close to the 7 division of the Nigerian Army. That ill fated apartment i avoided was located about 60 metres from the main entrance to the customs office. All the residents on that part of the town lost every thing they had called material things. Not one was spared. And I would have been one of them if not for divine providence. The only people and institutions spared partially were those who had one or two story buildings like the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH).

Reactions by survivors of the flood

I recently drove down to a restaurant to eat just opposite the customs area where I was supposed to have been residing but the place was a shadow of itself. The igbo lady name withheld almost in tears went into a litany of woes while narrating her experience in the past year. ” I lost everything in that flood. The water took away my utensils and pots and I had to start from scratch. That is why you could not recognize this place when you parked earlier. It has indeed changed and we still try our best to survive. Watin man go do even if dem refused to compensate some of us with the 100k, they announced will reach us. Will I comit suicide? she chuckled.

“I saw you when you arrived but was wondering why you did not come out of the car. Did not know you were struggling to locate the place.
Customer, I never knew you were the one but welcome to the relic of the old place you used to eat lunch. We thank God for being alive but I must tell you we went through hell and back since last year.

“We were surrounded by water when it happened so we had no where to go to. We rushed to the peak of the customs fly over and stayed there for two days but it was on the third day we were rescued from being killed in case the water had risen more than the ground floor of the customs building which we were seeing. The thing started slowly on the 9th but by 2 am of the 10th of September, we would have become history if that fly over was not there. We looked towards Gwange, it was water, our front was also water and it was rising slowly to consume us. Well one year after, I thank God for his mercies. Recording her woes in my brain I sat down finally, took my lunch and drove off towards Gwange area, glanced at the renovation done to the police division and then off to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). One year after the Gwange police division has really bounced back. Normal police activities were going on. The place looked more presentable now than it was about a year ago. A lot of houses and shops have been renovated one year after. Some actually got compensated by the Gujibawu committee while many others did the job themselves. The tension on mechanics who had to bring back to life hundreds of cars has gone down. Many residents who could afford the bill never waited for the committee to compensate them. They have all moved on hoping to see each day as it comes.

UMTH one year after

With the will power to go on and Professor Ahmed Ahidjo on the driver’s seat, a lot of recovery has taken place in the UMTH. From recent briefings by the Chief Medical Director (CMD) Ahidjo, repairs have taken place on most of the high grade radiation machines now working. A brand new MIR machine has been donated by Emeka Offor.
Lots of Damage was done especially to equipment on the ground floor while the first floor was relatively peaceful on that fateful day. The CMD noted in one of his recent briefs to newsmen that over 20 billion naira worth of property was destroyed by the flood. But they have been able to stand on their feet now in spite of all odds. Lots of items have been replaced but more needs to be purchased to keep the hospital going on.

The assistance of the medical sector

One year after the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) in Damboa road has since returned to normal duties. The urgency to save souls about to perish in the flood has gone down because every one seems to be fine now. The surveillance pillar has gone back to its primary duties. Hunt down any strange scourge and put an end to their existence. They hardly have time for petty politics or debates over the next route Ebola will take if they are careless. And what if they are not as vigilant as Stella Adadevoh who knew it but stood her ground to take the bullet for Nigerians.
Before I close my notebook, let me report to you that those who were saved miraculously are still alive to tell their tales of survival. Others who assisted in burial of loved ones have put the episode behind them. None of them were exempted from the tragedy. They were all touched in one way or the other because one friend or colleague or relative lost someone in the flood. Business premises of loved ones at Monday market area were devastated by the flood. Some of their relatives lost shops at post office. And they had to support them because the flood committee largesse did not get to them.
On a whole, they did their best ensuring that opportunistic illnesses were not allowed to spread all over the town. Sadly, the ministry of information could not work effectively with the health sector to synchronize statistics to fish out what is needed by news hounds. The Commissioner was doing his briefing in a separate venue while the entire health sector was briefing as a team at the EOC. That was a wrong precedent which did not help the media coordination.

What future for the Alau Dam?

It is obvious that the Alau Dam has come to stay regardless of the threat it still poses to residents of Maiduguri over 20 km from where it is located. At least 80 billion naira has been voted for the repairs of the dam by President Bola Tinubu. And as things stands now, we are awaiting the rehabilitation work to start so that the facility can return back to safety. The entire population in greater Maiduguri has been on red alert expressing fears that the water may still rise beyond expected limits. To reduce the fears of residents, Governor Babagana Zulum has actually visited the facility several times to ensure that the safety of residents is not compromised. He has directed the site engineers to watch and ensure that the water never goes beyond a particular level.

Regardless of these assurances, the Maiduguri/ jere axis which has formed the greater Maiduguri was also not spared from recent flash floods during the ongoing rainy season. So this time around, apart from the latent threats from the Alau Dam, Chibok, Damboa and parts of Biu suffered tremendously from the flash floods from the rains in the state. As expected Bulumkutu, Abuja talaka, Dala and environs where equally threatened by flash floods. One year after many people don’t want a repeat of the last flood. For residents in Maiduguri, their very existence is threatened whenever they see any form of unusual water rising towards them. The last flood was a terribly bad omen. Nobody wants another flood in Maiduguri no matter how small.

One year after, the killer flood in Maiduguri, a reporter’s diary of survival moves by residents, the medical sector, coordination errors, leading to more challenges beyond the damaged Alau Dam

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Columns

IBUAM: The Challenges of a Specialized University

Published

2 weeks ago

August 9, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

IBUAM: The Challenges of a Specialized University

By: Balami Lazarus

Universities are major parts of nation building. its growth, progress, and developments, among other human endeavors. They are known for adding value to human capacity in the realm of intellectual/skills productivity. Therefore,

Universities are playing significant roles in research and development (R&D).

Their core aims are translated into their objectives of teaching, learning, and character, knowing fully well that universities are the citadel of higher levels of educational attainment a country needs.

Whereof, universities are faced with volumes of challenges, both academic and non-academic, laying more in academic works and activities with demands in teaching, learning, and research.

When NEWSng visited the founder of Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM), Engr. Isaac David Balami, recently in Abuja in an attempt to follow up with the progress of this particular specialized private university, the only specialized academic institution in aeronautics and aviation management in academic disciplines/practicalities, including techniques and skills in aviation fields.

It is on record that IBUAM is the only private specialized university that trains and provides students with academics, practicals, techniques, and skills in aeronautics engineering fields and aviation management in sub-Saharan Africa.

Without prejudice, NEWSng has a fair understanding of the challenges our universities are faced with and are struggling to meet.

Be as it may, universities, whether specialized or not, are institutions for serious academic and intellectual studies where large funds are needed to run, manage, and cater to her teaching, learning, and research, including other services. In consideration of this, NEWSng commends kudos to IBUAM.

“I give glory to the Almighty. And let me state here with sincerity of purpose, appreciation, and gratitude to the Borno State Government under my able, progressive, and foresighted governor, Engr. Babagana Umara Zulum, who has made IBUAM see the light of day by her quantum support of sponsoring over 30 native students for various courses at IBUAM. The scholarship package runs in billions of naira. My gratitude also goes to well-meaning Nigerians who stood with me to make IBUAM a reality and the first of its kind on the African continent.”

NEWSng was further informed by the engineer. Isaac Balami, the IBUAM is not a conventional university where you have more academic theories and fewer practicals.

“Let me state here categorically that in IBUAM we are for both academic works and more practical applications. The aviation industry is all about safety, perfection, and security applicable to IBUAM in her courses. With this in mind, our challenges are more than a handful. The management spends hundreds of millions for just services. We are

We’re doing our best to see to the growth of this university. “Most people out there admired universities and their physical structures, including their names, without a second thought. “The aviation industry and its businesses the world over are not a tuft for unserious-minded businessmen or investors; everything surrounding the industry is all about money. Come to think of having a related academic institution (university) like IBUAM, whose objective is to produce graduates of international standard for best practices.”

Take for instance, a university with just three faculties: Sciences, Arts, and Management, with only 300 students. I suppose that, in your opinion, such a university is not impressive.

Thus, if you begin to consider what it takes to run and manage a university in terms of personnel, especially lecturers; facilities; tools; materials; and equipment, you will be shocked.

This has made NEWSng a reason why specialized universities like IBUAM need large funds to function. “You need more than two or three airplanes on the ground for practicals… excluding tax, insurance, and other charges to bring them.”

Reportedly, the challenges faced by a specialized university are much greater than what is commonly heard: “With the collective support of IBUAM management, we are progressing.”

The founder, Engr. Isaac David Balami, said that to bring the attention of the university closer to the people, the management has proposed to have an IBUAM liaison office in Abuja.

IBUAM: The Challenges of a Specialized University

Columns

Dadong: A Balanced Voice From Ungwan Rukuba

Published

2 months ago

June 25, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Dadong: A Balanced Voice From Ungwan Rukuba

By: Balami Lazarus

What does it take to be a public mouthpiece? That was the question I asked Comrade Dadong Solomon Antibas. My chats with him were a balanced interface. The answers can be found in the write-up for your review.

Democracy like ours has brought to the limelight public mouthpiece voices; some are weak and political, while others are strong, progressive, constructive, and fearless, demanding progress, growth, and development as dividends of good governance in a peaceful atmosphere.

Governments created by democratic processes are never left alone without citizens asking questions and demanding dividends of democracy for their community and the country at large.

Comrade Dadong Solomon Antibas is a Nigerian, law-abiding citizen. Antibas, a security expert and popular public mouthpiece on the Jos Plateau, has earned the confidence of the people of his community, Ungwan Rukuba, and most parts of the state over the years. For his community, he is their immediate mouthpiece who has been speaking on their plights, calling the attention of the government under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang to do the needful.

Personality like Solomon Antibas’ public impression of him by some citizens of the state is all about seeking relevance and political appointments. “I have no interest whatsoever in any political appointment. My sincere concern for my dear country and my state, Plateau, is peace, progress, growth, and development for future generations.”

Nigerians should begin to speak out on good governance at all levels. Citizens are also responsible for failing to hold them accountable and demand good governance in terms of security, social amenities, and infrastructure.

Ungwan Rukuba is one of the wards in the Jos North Local Government Area. It is an integral part of the city center. Unfortunately, the peaceful Ungwan Rukuba became a flashpoint. The terrorist attack of March 29th, 2026, has put a scar of insecurity on the area.

On insecurity, he said that Mr. President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has failed Nigerians woefully. “Insecurity is a bone of contention. The federal government must take decisive measures on the insecurity challenges bedeviling the nation.”

My findings on Comrade Dadong Antibas revealed that he is not a public affairs commentator or an analyst but a progressive and active public mouthpiece, a voice of the voiceless.

For some, Dadong is attacking the government under the leadership of Governor Mutfwang. ” Is speaking the minds of citizens on bad governance and holding the government of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang a crime”?

Despite threats on Solomon Dadong, they have not deterred him from speaking for and on behalf of other citizens living in the state. “I have no other way to hold the government accountable than to publicly speak and constructively criticize the leadership’s voicing out feelings and lots of the people…In democracy, governments are made by the people, and as such, they must provide for the collective needs of the masses who voted them in.”

Comrade Antibas is one among the few indigenous people of Plateau who are outspoken and speak with passion and a patriotic mind for his state and Nigeria. “I will live and die in Nigeria speaking, advocating, demanding, and/or holding both federal and state governments accountable for good governance.”

Balami, Publisher/Columnist, 08036779290

Dadong: A Balanced Voice From Ungwan Rukuba

Columns

Facts for Understanding Capital Market Investment

Published

2 months ago

June 23, 2026

Ochuwa Ibrahim

Facts for Understanding Capital Market Investment

By: Balami Lazarus

I grew up in an academic environment where the language is the same: study well, have good grades and be what you desire to be in the future through academic discipline and training.

Many of my contemporaries and I were not spoken to in the language of trade and commerce. But here are some of us as businessmen, entrepreneurs, investors and in other business enterprises far from the academic language we were bred with.

There has never been a market like the capital market the world over where trade per day runs into billions of cash. While market capitalisation is in trillions. The case of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), now Nigerian Exchange Group, with its trade symbol (NGX) on the floor, is a good example.

Investing in the capital market is profitable for traders and short- and long-term investors. But understanding the market requires some basic facts, which are cash, knowledge, discipline and patience, important for investors to appreciate the market.

Recently a member of my social group came to me to seek my advice on what it takes to invest in the equity market (stock exchange). I was very candid with the fellow, informing him that he needs cash, knowledge, discipline and patience to invest in the capital market after having defined his position as an investor.

First an investor needs cash in his possession set aside to invest in the capital market, the gateway into the market. You can have the other three, but without cash you are not yet an investor.

Lack of knowledge about a business or investments has made so many persons lose money worth millions.

This is typical with good number of Nigerians who attempted to start a business or invest in some going concerns without basic knowledge and understanding of the intricacies of these investments or businesses.

The information and technology age has
made acquiring knowledge very simple; therefore, understanding the stock market is easy these days.

Basically, the capital market depends on and responds to information, government policies, and economic and political happenings/events within and without, which most often determines the graphic movements of the primary market deals on the floor. ‘Bullish’ or ‘bearish’ simply means the plus or minus of the day’s transactions.

The need for monitoring of the market is important for traders and short-term investors. However, with knowledge and careful monitoring of the market, it is a suitable place for short-term gains for investors with multiple numbers of holdings in blue-chip companies like Dangote Cement, Bau Foods, Nestle, Aradel, Okumu Oil Palm, Zenith Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank and others. But for long-term investors, whether the market is bullish or bearish, his investment portfolio is for future use.

Investments like those of the capital market, discipline and being committed are necessary to build a strong, high-quality, profitable portfolio of a large number of holdings of units spread over listed companies of the stock exchange that come with capital appreciation and dividends. This is important, especially for long-term investors.

And the turn key in this type of investment is patience. Generally investments need patience for them to mature for harvest.

In stock market investment, patience plays a vital role in this business. Therefore, for an investor who lacks patience, the capital market is not a tuft for him and shall never be.

To navigate through this market, investors must at all times apply this formula and have it printed on their hearts. Cash = stock units over time + patience = capital apreciation/dividends.

Today there are changes in the exchange which have improved trading. The time of trade has been extended to transactions and payments (T+1). Other electronic applications to aid and encourage investors in the capital market in an attempt to boost the Nigerian economy.

Balami, Publisher/ Columnist 08036779290

Facts for Understanding Capital Market Investment