Over 1,000 tomato farmers in Maiduguri, Borno state have suffered losses due to severe flooding that submerged their farms, resulting in damages exceeding N1 billion.
The flooding, caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam, which failed after heavy rainfall, affected the North-Eastern city and displaced thousands of residents. Major roads, homes, and markets, including grain and vegetable depots, have been inundated, leading to a shortage of food items and skyrocketing prices for the limited supplies available.
Local food vendors expressed their dismay, stating that they cannot operate their businesses due to exhausted supplies. Other vendors echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the dire situation as they seek to restock in a market where access to food has become increasingly difficult.
“I can’t operate my restaurant despite pressure from customers, because the foodstuff I stocked has been exhausted,” Hajara Mohammed lamented.
The flood also affected the health sector, as the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Maiduguri Specialist Hospital were submerged in water.
Residents have also voiced concern over possible public health crises, including outbreaks of cholera, typhoid and other waterborne diseases. They expressed worry over the flood that washed away corpses at the Maiduguri cemetery.
Governor Babagana Zulum has been visiting emergency camps to distribute cash assistance to displaced individuals as they await food supplies.
Chairman of the Tomato Growers Association of Nigeria’s Borno State chapter, Muhammad Nur, expressed concern about the extensive losses incurred by thousands of farmers due to the flood. He urged the government to provide support, stating that their livelihoods have been destroyed and they are in urgent need of assistance.
Nur highlighted the situation faced by farmers, who are struggling to recover from the disaster and are reliant on government intervention to help restore their means of income.
He stated that 105 farmers were impacted at the Alau Dam, 115 in Dutsman, 120 in Zabarmari, 35 in Molai, 100 in Faria, and 350 in Bukassi. In addition, 217 farmers in Bayo LGA, 65 in Kwaya LGA, and 70 in Shani LGA were also affected.
According to him, each farmer cultivated at least one hectare of tomatoes, with an estimated value of N850,000 per hectare. He noted that approximately 90 percent of Maiduguri was submerged due to the flood, leading to widespread displacement.
The flood has had severely affected farmers in the state, who were at the peak of their harvest season. A farmer from the Faria area of Jere LGA expressed the plight of the affected community, calling for government intervention to address their losses and displacement.
Sani Danladi, the National Secretary of the National Tomato Growers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria, has urged the federal and state governments to provide assistance to members of the association affected by the recent flood in Borno State. He highlighted the significant financial losses incurred by the farmers, estimating billions of naira in damages.
Danladi pleaded for support from the government to enable the affected farmers resume their agricultural activities once the floodwaters recede. He called for assistance not only for tomato farmers but also for all farmers impacted by the disaster.
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, also noted that over one million people have been affected by the devastating flood that ravaged the state.
He said this while distributing cash and cooked food to displaced persons seeking refuge at the Bukassi camp in Maiduguri. He also disclosed the formation of a Health Emergency Committee to prevent flood-related epidemics in Maiduguri and Jere city.
Zulum highlighted the damage caused by the flood, stating that approximately one-fourth of Maiduguri was submerged. He explained that the immediate relief efforts included providing both food and non-food items to the affected population.
The governor further revealed that a search and rescue team had been deployed to assess the extent of loss in terms of lives and property. He added that data on the affected persons would be collected promptly.
Zulum expressed gratitude for the N3 billion flood intervention fund received from the Federal Government, which would be utilized to address the challenges faced by the flood victims.
Regarding the cause of the flood, the governor attributed it to the heavy rainfall experienced this season, worsened by climate change. He explained that the Alau Dam was overwhelmed, leading to flooding in the city, and that additional water was released from dams in Cameroon.
Zulum assured that the Alau Dam would be reconstructed and upgraded to handle its capacity, while illegal structures located on waterways and flood-prone areas would be demolished.