Senator Ali Ndume, representing Southern Borno Senatorial District, has called on the federal government to treat the Alau Dam flood disaster as a national emergency. The flood has displaced over one million people in Maiduguri. Ndume emphasized the need for emergency feeding centres to support the victims, suggesting that the Ramat Square in Maiduguri could serve as a suitable location.

Ndume made the appeal following an assessment of the disaster’s impact with Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum. He praised the Governor for establishing over 25 camps for the displaced but noted that the scale of destruction is beyond the capacity of the state government alone. Ndume urged for federal support in the form of food aid and collaboration with state efforts to alleviate the humanitarian crisis.

He described the Alau Dam collapse as a national disaster, highlighting the extensive damage to homes and infrastructure. Ndume called on Corporate Nigerians, NGOs, and individuals to assist in the relief efforts and urged the federal government to deploy dredging equipment to manage the floodwaters.

Additionally, prominent Borno State figures, including Mohammed Usman, have been urged to support Governor Zulum in this critical time, noting that the response to the disaster has been insufficient from those outside the state.