Food Shortage Imminent: Flood Destroys Bauchi 6,000-Hectare Farm, N900m Property, Road Linking Cameroon

Flood that followed downpour has cut-off two major international highways linking Nigeria with the Republic of Cameroon via the Maiha Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

The roads destroyed by flood are the highways linking Jabbi Nomba to Belel and Nguli to Belel.

This was as flood destroyed 6,000-hectare farm and N900m property in Bauchi State.

Belel is a border community at the borderline demarcating both countries.

On Sunday, the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Maiha Local Government Council, Adamu Abubakar, while speaking on a radio programme, lamented the destruction caused by flood, which washed off some sections on the two roads, thereby crippling movement and business activities.

He stated, “Torrential rainfall has washed off several bridges in no fewer than five wards in the Maiha Local Government Area.

“Other affected areas are Konkol, Belel, Sarau (A), Sarau (B) and Tambajam; these areas have been completely cut off from the rest of the world. Being agrarian communities, many farmers will be severely affected by the collapse of the two roads as they will find it difficult to transport their farm produce to the markets, which will in turn worsen the food crisis in the country.”

When contacted, Abdulganiyu Pakka, the media aide to the local government chairman, Alhaji Idi Amin, called on both the federal and state governments to quickly intervene and stop the country from losing substantial revenue since the roads served a major gateway for commerce between Nigeria and Cameroon.

In a related development, no fewer than 15 persons have died, while 24 others were injured in flood that accompanied torrential rains that have ravaged many communities across the 20 local government areas of Bauchi State since the rainy season began.

The Head of Operations, Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency, Dr Abubakar Gabarin, told The PUNCH in his office on Monday that eight people died across the state.

But sources within SEMA told our correspondent that the deaths were no fewer than 15.

A source told The PUNCH in confidence, “As of August 12, 2021, five persons died in Jama’are, three in Gamawa, three in Ningi, while one person each died in the Toro and Darazo LGAs. At least, two more deaths were recorded with one in Duguri village in the Alkaleri LGA and one more in another LGA.”

Gabarin said properties worth more than N900m had been destroyed across the state in addition to over 6,000 hectares of rice, maize, wheat, millet and other crops, as well as hundreds of houses, 24 bridges, 74 culverts, 573 animals and other valuables.

He said, “So far, all the 20 local government areas of the state have been affected by flooding this year. As of last week, only three LGAs had not brought their reports, but this morning (Monday), they brought them.

” So far, the estimated value of houses, farmlands, animals and properties affected is around N900m. And that is not all since the rain is still falling and the reports have not stopped coming from the LGAs, and even this morning (Monday), I got two reports that are not part of what I have told you.

“From our assessment so far, the people affected across the state are over 2,062. Hundreds of houses were affected; some of them collapsed, while only sections were destroyed in others.

“For the farms, over 6,000 hectares of rice, maize, wheat, millet and many other crops were submerged; 24 bridges and 74 culverts were destroyed, and about 573 animals were killed across the state.

” We also received the report that 24 persons were injured with most of them treated and discharged from hospitals.”

He added, “There are pockets of deaths as a result of the flooding like in Gadan Maiwa, where three travellers were washed away. In Jama’are, three corpses were recovered, which the flood brought from a different place.

“In Darazo, there was one person; in Duguri, Alkaleri LGA, there was one person; and in Zaki, there was one person. So far, only eight people have died, but the sad thing is that flooding is still happening and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency is warning that more rain will still fall.”

– The Punch