- Heavy rainfall in the early hours of Wednesday, July 30, 2025, triggered severe flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, causing the collapse of at least eight buildings and displacing residents across several communities.
The three-hour downpour, which began around 6:15 am, inundated key areas such as Bulumkutu, Abuja, Moduganari, Ngomari, Gomari, Jidari, and ITE, destroying homes and property.
A resident of Bulumkutu, Ahmodu Ibrahim, described how his apartment was submerged by 8 am, forcing him and his family to flee.
“I started seeing water coming in after an hour of the rain. I immediately took my children and wife to a safe area,” he said.
Aisha Suraju, a petty trader, lost her shop’s inventory to the deluge.
Although the Borno State Police Command reported no casualties, it confirmed that the floodwaters caused the collapse of eight structures—mostly older residential buildings and informal housing.
The incident has once again highlighted the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather, following a similarly devastating flood in 2024, and underscored the urgent need for long-term solutions to Nigeria’s recurring flood crises.
What occurred in 2024 Maduguri floods
The 2025 floods follow a catastrophic event in September 2024, when the collapse of the Alau Dam, located in Konduga Local Government Area, inundated Maiduguri and Jere, displacing over 400,000 people and affecting more than one million.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that 70% of Maiduguri was submerged, with at least 150 deaths recorded, though local estimates suggested higher casualties.
The flooding, described as the worst in 30 years, destroyed critical infrastructure, including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the state secretariat, and major bridges like Gwange and Lagos Street.
The 2024 disaster was triggered by heavy rainfall and structural damage to the Alau Dam, which had previously collapsed in 1994 and 2012. The flooding also led to a prison break, with 270 inmates, including suspected Boko Haram members, escaping from a medium-security facility.
Additionally, 80% of animals at the Sanda Kyarimi Park Zoo perished, and dangerous animals, including crocodiles, escaped, posing further risks to residents.
Over 300,000 displaced people were registered in 30 relocation sites, many of which were overcrowded schools with inadequate sanitation, raising fears of cholera and malaria outbreaks.
NiMet and NIHSA Warnings
NiMet’s forecast of continued heavy rainfall through August 2025 has heightened concerns about further flooding in Borno and other states.
The agency warned of potential flash floods in 15 states, including Borno, between July 30 and August 1, 2025, noting that the rainy season’s peak is yet to come.
NIHSA’s broader alert for 28 states including Borno, citing rising water levels in the Niger and Benue rivers, worsened by intense rainfall and upstream water releases.
NIHSA Director-General Umar Mohammed called for communities to relocate to higher ground and for state governments to activate emergency plans immediately.
The agency pointed to climate-driven factors, such as intense rainfall and upstream water releases, as key contributors to the flooding risk.
These warnings echo earlier alerts in 2024, when NiMet predicted flooding risks in Bama, Damboa, and Gwoza due to continuous rainfall starting in late August.
Government Response to the incident
The Borno State government, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), responded to the July 30, 2025, Maiduguri floods in Bulumkutu, Abuja, Moduganari, Ngomari, and other areas.
NEMA deployed rescue teams to evacuate residents and distribute relief materials, such as food and non-food items, despite challenges from blocked roads and ongoing rainfall.
The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) established temporary camps to shelter displaced families and coordinated rescues with the Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Police, and State Fire Service.
The Borno State Police Command, led by Commissioner Naziru Abdulmajid, conducted damage assessments, deployed patrols to prevent looting, and provided emergency helplines (0806 807 5581, 0802 347 3293).
In 2024, Governor Babagana Zulum promised to invest in sustainable infrastructure to prevent future floods, admitting past neglect of the Alau Dam. Investigations later exposed mismanagement of funds meant for the dam’s upkeep, raising concerns about governance and accountability.
NEMA and NIHSA have emphasized the need for public awareness, clearing blocked drainage channels, reinforcing embankments to mitigate flood risks and emphasized avoiding floodwaters to prevent waterborne diseases.
The floods have deepened Maiduguri’s challenges, exacerbating displacement and economic strain in a region already scarred by conflict.
With NiMet forecasting continued heavy rainfall through August, the risk of further flooding looms, threatening food security and livelihoods.
Immediate relief efforts by NEMA, SEMA, and the police provide critical support, but long-term solutions—such as upgrading drainage systems, maintaining the Alau Dam, and investing in climate-resilient infrastructure—are essential to break the cycle of devastation.
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