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

Money: A Change Driver, You Hold The Four Aces in Human Equations

By: Balami Lazarus

One of the good and most interesting things about children is their mindset. Theirs are pure and natural actions and inactions. Their imaginations are also wild and crazy. To them, all things are possible and positive without limitations. We were indeed once like them.

As a child, I used to tell myself and my parents that when I grow up, I will have plenty of money to buy all my needs and wants. The thought of this makes me laugh my heart out. And here I am, an adult descending in age, faced with a bale of classified and catalogued financial commitments portioned and dished out to family, relatives, and friends in their plates of needs, where money is the change driver to these challenges.

The power and influence of money as a change driver in the human equation is a permanent denominator in lives and in death—its role in funerals and burials is significant.

I know now that this one piece of work will be a change driver in the equation that has refused to be balanced between Ballama Shettima Mustapha, my childhood friend since our teens and twenties in Zaria and Maiduguri. As I write with my pen plugged in a creative scenario, he knows and understands what I mean.

Let us now take a look at this event and begin to consider the power and influence of money in changing equations because with it you hold the four aces. When he was introduced and called upon as the Chief Launcher at a fundraising event. There were patches of noise of disrespect and mockery. He looks simple in personality and dressing as he walks to the podium. His steps of confidence were rhythms of affluence and capacity. With the influence of wealth and power of money was the fragrance that enveloped the hall.In a blink of an eye his donation brought a complete silence and stillness; a pin drop was a noise, if at all there were any.Do you now agree with me that he has changed an equation in the attitudes of the audience? My friend can now laugh.

I hope you all have heard some individuals will tell you that their problem is money. And I say, if that is their mind and

thinking I stand to tell them with sincerity of purpose that he/ she will find it difficult and near impossible to get hat money they are looking for. For me, money as a legal tender has never been my challenge. My grudges and axe to grind with money is how to make the money through wealth creation processes that should comes with positive human transformation as a change driver.

Most of us are aware that money has always been the quick means, reasons, and motives behind crimes and negative changes of attitudes, behavior, and character in humans. In fact, to say it loud and clear, it is the driver of most crimes time immemorial in societies.

It has made many people change from whom you used to know to something else. I have also seen where it has made some stupid stooges and factotums because of their uncontrollable and excessive quest and love for money, stretching them to evil dungeons.And that allegedly, if you want to change a course of charges in a police station, offer money, and automatically the equation will change in favor of either of the parties.

However, not all human equations can be changed by money. Where conscience, integrity, and morality are disciplined by men as a pathfinder, money is secondary in the affairs of such a society, as the case may be.

Balami, a publisher/columnist. 08036779290

Money: A Change Driver, You Hold The Four Aces in Human Equations

My Binoculars: Memo to Governor Zulum on the state of emergencies in the Borno health sector and the perceived interventions of development partners in ending the war

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Your Excellency, I must congratulate you for the myriads of achievements you have recorded in the entire state since you assumed duty. Your development of Borno regardless of the saddening insurgent war tormenting residents is quite remarkable. For me as a watcher of this kind of persistent social engineering, the health sector comes to mind as one that has literarily risen from dry grass to grace. My binoculars cannot forget in a hurry, your nocturnal visits to the hospitals when the guards of some of the medical managers were down. Many of them were shocked when caught napping at home instead of working while some accused you of barging into general hospitals without notice when you were sworn in. You did this obviously at very odd hours to find out how you can turn things around for the common man who has nowhere to go but those existing battered facilities when sick. A template has been set for the pretenders among them and they now know you don’t get pleased by eye service.

Before your first term of intervention as Governor, almost every thing regarding this sector was done haphazardly. Principal Medical officers (PMO’s) lacked the basic equipment to average at least 3/10 marks in terms of efficiency. Patients were told to buy 95 percent of their drugs outside the hospitals while the non governmental organizations (NGO’s) feasted on the ignorance of the generality of the residents. They were seen as the only saving grace within the emergency sub sector in the ministry of Health. Some humanitarians criminally feasted on the ignorance of the people by making huge harvests by way of corrupt blood money from a war which had no reason to have lasted till this day. Some of them came in as mere money mongers claiming to want to eliminate diseases like polio which have tormented residents long before you started your first tenure. No wonder some of them rent homes for three to four years for themselves because they don’t expect the war to end very soon. They are clogs in the wheels of the non kinetic which the military insist entails 75 percent of the efforts to end the war. Many benefitted immensely from the last flood which ravaged the city of Maiduguri one year ago.

BOACSDHR’s role in managing duplication and rouge NGO’s who lack the interest of the people

And this is why you set up an agency of accountability to streamline particularly the international NGOs who did what they wanted and felt they were untouchable and cannot be criticized.
Prof, you brought accountability within the health sector when you set up the Borno State Agency for the coordination of sustainable development and humanitarian response (BOACSDHR) in 2019 as part of government strategy to streamline the influx of some of these NGOs with twisted mindsets into the state. And I must tell you some of us watchers are very proud of the cerebral inputs into its steady growth by your Chief Adviser and coordinator Dr Mairo Mandara. She has actually been whipping them into line. No cow is sacred under her watch. They either conform with your visions and agenda or are shown the way out. Indeed within the 15 years of this pogrom against the Borno people so many unexpected woes have been unleashed on residents. The last one was the bursting of the seams of the Auno Dam which supplies drinking water to the state capital.
Sadly, while many of the NGOs meant well and came in with deep empathy to help the people, some others were just out to exploit the vulnerabilities of residents by converting resources meant for their well being to their fat pockets. Some carried a puritanical air of importance as if they are even above their parent bodies in Europe and America. Some of them are so full of themselves that they forget that the government should be on the drivers seat even if they are the ones paying the piper.

Compromises within the system

Sadly your Excellency some of your appointees are also bootlickers who worship international bodies because of what they gain at the sidelines from them. They see some international bodies as angels not made from dust like the rest of us as such they cannot make mistakes. But thank God you had the political will to create the BOACSDHR to coordinate humanitarian and development activities in the state towards efficient and effective use of resources to achieve the Borno state development aspiration to restore the age old honour, dignity and prosperity of the state, while ensuring all citizens and future generations have access to basic necessities and thrive in every stage of their lives. This has also assisted in elimination of deliberate duplication of activities between the international, national and local NGOs within the health sector. With this, the mindset of your appointees are being adjusted intermittently so that the Borno residents will become the ultimate winner. We may not all be perfect but there is always ample chance to move closer to the realm of excellence which some of us can decipher that you long for in the system especially now that the state teaching Hospital is on the way.

When Heads of agencies play with mediocrity

Your Excellency, I had a strange experience with one of your political appointees name withheld who castigated me recently for criticizing the world bodies like the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). I will leave his name out so that he doesn’t earn reprisal form you. But he is of the medical sector and claims to have been made in unimaid. He sounded so subservient to the development partners in his comments that I started wondering if he actually went to a university as he claimed. He is of a completely different mindset from your orientation which is to look out for excellence at all times even as you crush mediocrity. I used to think that all who work for a particular principal like you will adopt most of your characteristics. But this young fellow is a complete sell out in health health system far different from Professor Baba Mallam Gana whom he works under. He sounded so mediocre for my liking that I started wondering if the civil service is all about eye service and yes sir. If not what is it about the WHO that we can’t criticize them if they stray away from your plan? Have they become gods or the anti Christ that we should begin to fear to tell them to fall in line when they make mistakes? How much money are they spending in Nigeria that we should pamper them like some holier than thou agency who do not make mistakes? The same applies to the UNICEF and the rest of them. If you could say no to the world bank in the acresal project in the Dala swamps and they finally reached you at a common ground, does it not mean that no agency is above being corrected if they do not flow with our indigenous way of doing things?

Need for an urgent law guaranteeing emergency care for all

After what I want to describe as the careless deaths of two women at the Umaru Shehu hospital about two years ago due to alleged abandonment by the Medical Officer in charge then Dr Philibus, I agree totally that we must create a law “guaranteeing emergency care” for all regardless of ability to pay. It is important too harp on this your Excellency because we have a lot of awkward emergencies cropping up in the health sector which we are yet to fix. And some of these challenges such as neglect of desperate emergencies of residents, cut across the primary to tertiary level not only in this state but in Nigeria as a whole. We may also have to exempt the health sector from too much politics which it sometimes suffer from depending on who is in charge. In saner climes medical practitioners like Dr Philibus would be defending himself against the medical council of Nigeria by now for neglecting obvious emergencies brought right before his nose. Even if the ministry did not supply him with common cotton wool, it was not an excuse to drive those crying ladies to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) where he insisted they should go to without any first aid to keep them alive. After the medical council ordeal, the families of those late politicians would have dragged him to court.for further damage no matter who he thinks he is in the medical sector. Health managers must be more vigilant to ensure some of these perceived harmful practices of negligence does not go on in any of the sub sectors outside emergency. Keen binocular watching of local and international partners like the NGO’s should be stepped up not only by health managers but even the surveillance pillar to ensure that the common man does not die like chicken because he lacks the resources to pay for a particular service especially if he is not registered in the national or state health insurance scheme.

Medical practitioners in the 36 state management levels should also realize that issues like emergencies in the government hospitals not carried out free should bother them. And they should not necessarily bother about less important issues within the sector. We should be interested in lives of the common man other than those with the ability to go for medical tourism in Europe or Asia. This is real food for thought that should bother all progressive health managers and you and your colleagues in the 36 States of the federation.

My Binoculars: Memo to Governor Zulum on the state of emergencies in the Borno health sector and the perceived interventions of development partners in ending the war