How are flood victims in Maiduguri coping a year after the disaster?

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Flood Victims in Maiduguri Continue to Struggle a Year After Devastating Floods

A year after a dam burst and unleashed devastating floodwaters through Maiduguri, a significant portion of the over 300,000 displaced residents remain in precarious living conditions, grappling with the loss of homes, businesses, and livelihoods. Many are forced to share cramped living spaces with neighbours or reside in temporary tents, highlighting the persistent challenges in rebuilding their lives.
Persistent Displacement and Inadequate Housing

Many of the flood victims are still living in overcrowded conditions, a year after the September 2024 dam burst. For instance, 75-year-old Maryam Jidda and her nine children are sharing a single room with a neighbour, a stark illustration of the housing crisis faced by those affected. Similarly, Aisha Ali Adamu, 45, and her eight children are reliant on handouts, unable to afford basic necessities like school uniforms and books, after losing her groundnut oil extracting business and home.
Disrupted Livelihoods and Economic Hardship

The floods not only destroyed homes but also obliterated the means of survival for many residents, hindering their ability to restart their businesses. Maryam Jidda, who previously supported her family by selling kola nuts, has been unable to raise the capital to resume her trade. Yusuf Muhammad, a tyre mechanic, received 200,000 naira ($130) from the government and the World Food Programme, but this sum was entirely consumed by the daily needs of his family of 16, leaving no funds for rebuilding his home.
Existing Vulnerabilities Exacerbated by the Disaster

The flood disaster has significantly worsened pre-existing challenges in Borno state, particularly concerning education and security. Even before the floods, approximately 700,000 children in the state lacked access to education, with many displaced by over a decade of jihadist violence that has seen more than two million people flee their homes in northeast Nigeria. A recent jihadist attack in early September, which killed at least 63 people, further underscores the deep-seated fears and insecurity in the region, making a return to deserted villages a daunting prospect for many.
Environmental Factors and Infrastructure Strain

The extreme rainfall that contributed to the dam's collapse, with Maiduguri recording levels 43 percent above the annual average last year, overwhelmed the city's drainage systems and fragile infrastructure. This event is emblematic of a broader trend of intensifying extreme weather events across Nigeria, linked to climate change. According to geography professor Abubakar Kawu Monguno, Maiduguri is in a state of "panic mode" due to the confluence of conflict, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure, a situation compounded by the recent flooding which, as of mid-September this year, had claimed 232 lives and displaced over 121,000 people nationwide.

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How are flood victims in Maiduguri coping a year after the disaster?

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