By Inusa Ndahi, Maiduguri
Alau Dam has reservoir capacity of 112 million cubic meters collapsed.
The Dam was designed to support irrigation activities on the Alau river bank that is now used to supply tap water in Maiduguri and its environs.
Unfortunately, on 10th September this year, the Alau Dam collapsed which caused severe floods in Maiduguri metropolis, Jere, Mafa and some parts of Konduga Local Government Areas in Borno state.
The flood, apart from killing many people, has also displaced over a million people with houses, farmlands, schools, markets and critical infrastructures destroyed.
The Jere bowl has a direct link with Alau Dam when it discharges water, and the only surviving crops on that axis is guinea corn.
As water recedes, people or victims have started going back to their houses and business centres, farmers are also busy counting their losses. The member representing Jere Federal Constituency, Borno State, Hon. Ahmed Satomi was also a victim as about 2,000 hectares of his rice farmlands situated around the Jere bowl were completely destroyed.
But despite this tragedy that befell the Lawmaker, Satomi donated N200 million to assist in ameliorating the current hardship faced by the victims of flood disaster.
This donation from Satomi is the highest so far amongst the Senators and other Lawmakers who have contributed in cash and kind to Borno State Government.
While on visit to Governor Zulum in Maiduguri, Satomi commiserate with Government and the good people of the state, especially victims. He also prayed God to grant Aljannatul Firdaus to Souls of those who lost their lives, and wished the injured ones quick recovery.
In addition, Hon. Satomi and member Borno State House of Assembly representing Jere local government area, Hon. Abba Kyari led 150 youth volunteers to fumigate and disinfect the communities against water borne diseases.
The exercise lasted for about five days, as the youth volunteers receives token gesture from the Lawmaker for the sacrifices.
Conducting our Correspondent to the destroyed farmlands around the Jere bowl, Satomi described the flood as a national calamity, because more than 50,000 hectares of rice, millet, groundnuts, sesame, okro, onions and other crops and vegetables were completely washed away around the Jere bowl alone.
Jere Bowl according to Satomi is not only an Agricultural hub to the North Eastern states, but to the entire nation and even beyond, as proceeds such as rice, millet, groundnuts, onions, pepper and other cash crops are exported to other states in the region and to countries like Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic.
His words: The entire Jere rice bowl alone is about 22,000 hectares, but the entire Jere water rice bowl up to, Zabarmari, Gongulong, Koshebe, Dusuman and towards our border with Mafa local government area is above 50,000 hectares, which is close to a 100 acres. The expected outfit from this 22,000 hectares is about 33,000 metric tonnes, which definitely would add a lot to the nation’s food security.
“The Jere Bowl is very fertile not only for arable farming, it is the largest producer of rice, wheat and many cash crops in the whole of the North East sub-region. Vegetables also thrives and most of the people in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and our neighbouring Cameroun, Chad and Niger depends solely on our onions, pepper etc.
“Presently as you can see, we have lost over 50,000 hectares of farmlands. You can see behind me is my rice farmlands which about 2,000 hectares, and have been submerged completely.
” We are calling on the government to come to the aide of our peasant farmer victims. There should be a special intervention for these victims to prepare for a dry season farming, because they have lost everything.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice -President Senator Kashim Shettima are aware of our predicament and we hope they will act accordingly to wipe out the tears of our people.
” The Jere bowl is very fertile, and we need quick intervention, already, I have started distributing bean seeds to enable farmers replant as water recedes, so that they can get something before the end of the rainy season.
” We want the whole World to know that we don’t pray for what has happened in Borno State, should happen anywhere, because what happened was a global catastrophe. Nobody can tell you exactly the number of people killed, injured or worth of property destroyed which is worth billions of naira.
” I was just informed that the flood water has extended it’s volume up to Mafa, Dikwa local government areas and we don’t know where it is heading to, as the rains continue almost on daily basis.
“I am an Engineer by profession, the Alau Dam before it collapsed was designed to take about 190 billion litres of water, it is not a small Dam. Unfortunately, we were targeting two or three weeks to harvest when the flood erupted and taken over everything at this critical moment when our resilient people engaged into farming to become self- reliant, all all their dreams did not come to fruition.
“As I said, earlier, I am also a victim, it has taken over all my rice field, almost the cluster family of Satomi Integrated Farms limited has been destroyed completely, but as a stakeholder, my own is secondary compared to our peasant farmers who depend solely on their farm produce to survive with the children and families.
On what the federal government should do to address the short term impact, Satomi said, “I want to comment President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Vice -President, Senator Kashim Shettima and governor Babagana Zulum for their prompt response to the disaster.
“We are here in a deep location where most of the settlers are peasant farmers. Although, the flood has not affected their shelters so much, but it has affected their livelihood and source of their income, and so, am calling on the federal government to come to their aide immediately.
” There should be a collation of actual data of victims and property destroyed by the flood. There must be a proper camp coordination by all stakeholders involved in the management of displaced victims in order to avoid duplication of efforts. Therefore, I want to advocate for proper camp management so all sectors involved, be it NEMA, SEMA, Health, Environment, Ministry of Women Affairs and so on will play their part scientifically in addressing the immediate sufferings of the traumatized victims.
Also addressing the farmers, Member representing Jere state constituency enjoined them to take solace, as government will do everything possible to give assistance to victims.
He said, already, governor Zulum has inaugurated a 35- member Committee which comprised of representatives from EFCC, ICPC, DSS, Police, UN officials, CSOs and other stakeholders to ensure judicious and transparent distribution of cash, food and non-food items to victims.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers/victims, the Village head of Gongulong, Mallam Dujja Gongulong appreciated Hon. Satomi for identifying with them at this trying moment. He also appreciated government at all levels who played a critical role in rescuing many victims, even as he said, the flood has not only destroyed the farmlands and houses, but also led to the killing of many lives, which he prayed Allah to grant Aljannatul Firdaus to Souls of those who died, and wish the injured ones quick recovery.
The Village head who spoke to Sunday Vanguard in a sober mood, said, Hon. Satomi has started distributing bean seeds freely to victims, to enable them engage in dry season farming on their destroyed farmlands.
He then appealed to federal government and other stakeholders to come to their aide, as the extent of damages are beyond human comprehension.
Meanwhile, immediately after assessing the rate of damage on the farmlands, Hon. Ahmed Satomi and Hon. Abba Kyari led 150 youth volunteers to fumigate and disinfect the communities against water borne diseases.
The Lawmakers alongside youth volunteers, began the fumigation at Gongulong-Madinatul and State Low Cost Housing estate.
The exercise which is expected to last for five days will cover Mashamari, Old Maiduguri, Galtimari and Maimusari Wards.
In an interview, Satomi said: “Inline with our mandate, I have team up with Hon. Abba Kyari, member representing Jere at the Borno State House of Assembly, stakeholders and 150 youth volunteers to complement efforts of the state government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum in disinfecting contaminated communities as water recedes.
“We have liaised with Borno State Environmental Agency (BOSEPA) and discovered some gaps. For example, heavy trucks and vehicles cannot access some areas or streets, so it’s become incumbent on us to walk into those areas to fumigate and disinfect these communities with chlorine, details, and other chemicals.
“It is a volunteer work to augment the state government’s efforts. The Marshalls are well trained and kitted to go into the nook and crannies of the entire community to disinfect them as we will also give them some stipends at the end of the exercise.
“We would cover three wards of Mashamari, Old Maiduguri, Maimashari and Galtamari, and it would be extended to other parts of Jere”. Satomi said.
Likewise, Hon. Kyari commended the 150 youth volunteers for the sacrifices. He advised them to be law abiding and always be good ambassadors in the communities affected, as there are possibilities that some aggrieved residents may not relate well with them due to the traumatic experience over the flood disaster.
