President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, said on Wednesday that he was saddened over the destruction caused by floods in parts of Borno and Bauchi States, which had recorded loss of lives and thrown many out of their homes.
Heavy rains in recent days had forced the Alau Dam near Maiduguri, the Borno state capital, to overflow, destroying buildings, farmlands, and other valuables along the flood path.
In Bauchi and Yobe states, residents have also suffered a similar fate as the rains pour harder.
The Senate President’s spokesman, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in a statement in Abuja, said his boss sympathised with the victims and governments of the affected states.
“Senate President Godswill Akpabio, on behalf of his family, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the entire National Assembly, extends his deepest sympathies to the Vice President, Government of Borno and Bauchi states, Distinguished Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and Traditional Rulers whose districts are affected, and the entire people who are directly or indirectly affected by these devastating flood disasters in these states.
“Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones, properties, and livelihoods due to this unprecedented natural disaster. We pray for the souls of the departed and offer our support to those struggling to cope with the aftermath.
“We commend the efforts of the Federal Government, the Borno and Bauchi state governments, the emergency actors, and humanitarian organisations working tirelessly to provide relief and assistance to the affected communities,” the statement reads.
Akpabio pledged the support of the Senate to the governments of the affected states and the Federal Government in providing relief to the victims and other efforts to restore their lives to normalcy.
The flooding, which started about a week ago, worsened on Tuesday in the North-East states, particularly in Maiduguri.
For example, in Bauchi State, the government confirmed the deaths of 24 people, with many homes destroyed while more than 300 farmlands were reportedly lost.
Vice President Kashim Shettima led a federal government delegation to Maiduguri on Tuesday to express the sympathy of President Bola Tinubu to the state and the people.
The visit came as the authorities sent out warning alarms to residents to stay away from the flooded areas because of dangerous reptiles, including crocodiles, that had been washed away from zoos and other places they had been kept.
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