Efforts by WikkiTimes to obtain an explanation for the suspension of the ongoing drainage system project in Nguru proved unsuccessful.
By Yawale Adamu
In August 2024, the bustling town of Nguru in Yobe State was thrown into chaos as relentless rains transformed daily life into a harrowing nightmare. For residents like Dauda Muhammed Aji, a father of 21 and a long-time resident of Layin Zangon Kanwa, the floods left scars deeper than the waters that swept through the community.
Standing amidst the ruins of his ancestral home, Dauda recalls the day his house, once a haven for his extended family, was swallowed by the unrelenting waters. His voice heavy with emotion, he recounts the futile struggle to drain the floodwater that inundated his home.
“I spent days with my family members trying to empty the water that flooded into my house before the rooms collapsed,” he told WikkiTimes. “But the water kept coming, and my efforts couldn’t stop it. Now, we are left with just two rooms to accommodate all of us.”
The flood did not discriminate. It spread its devastation across the town, claiming homes, livelihoods, and dreams. Entire neighborhoods in Zangon Kanwa, Nayinawa, and Kwaltar Barma were submerged, with residents watching helplessly as the uncontrolled overflow from the Zangon Kanwa Dam swept through their lives.
A Disaster Foretold
For years, Nguru’s residents had warned authorities about the danger posed by the overfilled dams, which lacked proper drainage outlets. Their pleas, however, were met with indifference, leaving the community vulnerable to inevitable disaster.
“We’ve been complaining for years,” says Bulama Muhammadu, a community leader. “But nothing tangible was done. Instead of finding a lasting solution, they distribute relief materials after each flood. This year, the damage is so severe that some people may never rebuild their homes.”
WikkiTimes learnt that the flooding has become a grim annual ritual for Nguru residents, with the waters steadily encroaching on their homes. Yet 2024 proved to be a turning point, with destruction on a scale unmatched in recent memory.
Families Uprooted, Dreams Washed Away
As the floodwaters raged, Dauda Aji and his family were forced to take desperate measures to survive. Hiring a water pump to drain the stagnant water from their two remaining rooms cost him over ₦20,000—an expense that only deepened the strain on his family’s finances.
“In over 40 days, I couldn’t even go to my farm,” he says. “All my energy was focused on securing a place for my family to sleep. Even now, we are cramped in a single room that could collapse at any moment.”
Others, like Usman Haruna of Nayinawa, were left with nothing but memories of what they had lost. Haruna’s small shop, which doubled as his living quarters, was submerged in water one fateful night.
“All my capital is gone,” Haruna says. “I barely escaped with my life. Now, I have no idea where to sleep or how to start again.”
For many, the situation is one of helplessness and despair. Some families have taken refuge in schools or with relatives, while others continue to live in the wreckage of their homes, unable to afford an alternative.
Blame And Frustration
As the waters receded, frustration bubbled to the surface. Residents directed their anger at the government, accusing it of neglect and poor planning.
Malam Musa Mai Almajirai, an elder in the community, attributes the recurring floods to the lack of proper water channels.
“Every year, the dam fills up, and every year, we are flooded,” he says. “The government needs to create outlets for the water. Relief materials are not a solution. We need action, not promises.”
Similar sentiments were echoed by other leaders, like Mai’anguwa Mustapha Muhammed of Gidan Garka, who lamented the abandoned culvert project initiated by the Nguru Local Government Area Council.
“They started clearing the area for drainage work, but the project was never completed,” he says. “When the rains came, the unfinished culverts were washed away. This lack of commitment is why we continue to suffer.”
A Cry For Sustainable Solutions
The flood’s aftermath has prompted renewed calls for long-term solutions. Residents and community leaders agree that the dams could be harnessed for irrigation and water storage if proper channels were created.
“We don’t need handouts; we need proper infrastructure,” says Mustapha. “The money spent on relief materials every year could have been used to solve this problem permanently.”
State officials have acknowledged the severity of the situation. According to the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), over 1,000 residents across 18 communities were affected by the flooding. The agency distributed relief materials to victims based on the extent of their losses, but for many, the aid was too little, too late.
Senator Ahmed Lawan Ibrahim, representing Yobe North, visited the affected areas and called for federal intervention. “This recurring disaster is due to the lack of drainage systems and embankments,” he said. “The government must provide sustainable solutions to mitigate future floods.”
For the people of Nguru, the future remains uncertain. As they rebuild their lives brick by brick, they carry the weight of unfulfilled promises and the fear of another flood.
“I’ve lived here my whole life,” says Malam Musa. “I’ve watched this town thrive and suffer. But now, we are losing hope. If the government doesn’t act, our homes will become history.”
Efforts by WikkiTimes to obtain an explanation for the suspension of the ongoing drainage system project in Nguru proved unsuccessful. Ahmad Muhammadu Mairami, the chairman of the Nguru Local Government Council, did not respond to multiple inquiries. Phone calls placed to him were rejected, and messages sent via SMS and WhatsApp remained unanswered at the time of reporting.
Similarly, WikkiTimes attempts to reach Lawan Sani Inuwa, the Member representing Nguru Central in the Yobe State House of Assembly, were unsuccessful, as he also did not respond to SMS or WhatsApp messages.
This report was published with support from the Civic Media Lab.