News

Flood Hits Maiduguri City As Govt Close Schools For 2 Weeks

Published

2 years ago

September 10, 2024

Our Correspondent

Hundreds of residents have fled their homes, shops and schools following a devastating flood in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital

One of the victims of the flood said that the flood effected Millionaires Quarters around Gamboru Ward and its environs were also flooded even as the popular Lagos Bridge and the Moduganari bypass bridge have also been submerged and inaccessible.

Mallam Ba’aba the resident of the town said this situation is to be worse than the previous flooding incident around 1994, exactly 30 years now ago, thereby making history to repeat itself in the month of September.

The Alau Dam, which has been at full capacity for the past week, reportedly collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday.

According to the staff of Zoo park, who spoke on theflood, expressed that the Shehu Sanda Kyarimi Park, also been submerged forcing staff to relocate to a safe place, while many animals in the Zoo including crocodiles and snakes have strayed through the water channels, thereby raising apprehension amongst residents who are scampering to remove their properties floating on the raging flood.

Yagana Mustapha added that the flood almost effected parts of the state like, Zoo Road has been flooded with water gushing to the College of Health Technology in Maiduguri while the water is already going towards the Damboa Road ,Commissioner of Police Junction
Comrade Butama Abiso, who is the Executive Director, Network of Civil Society Organisations in Borno State, has urged the humanitarian action towards the victims of the flood.
According to him the flooding has left numerous families devastated and homeless, with particularly severe impact on women and children,.

He also urge on all Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) under its wing to extend their assistance to the affected communities in the State.

In a statement by Usman Tar, the state commissioner for information and internal security, issued a flooding alert, urging the immediate evacuation of those living along the riverbanks.
Tar also urged residents of the affected areas to follow evacuation routes to ensure safe passage.

“Due to the unusually high volume of water this year, we urge all the residents living along the river bank to take immediate action to protect themselves and their properties,” he said.

In the meantime, the Borno State government has reopened the closed Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Maiduguri for relocation of citizens displaced by the flood.

“following the ongoing flooding across the state and its adverse effects, the Borno State Ministry of Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation has directed a statewide closure of all schools, both public and private, until Monday, Sept. 23″, the statement said .

He added that we urge all concerned parties to comply strictly with this directive.We regret any inconvenience this notice may have caused and we appreciate your understanding,” the statement added.

The schools which were initially scheduled to open on Monday, Sept. 9, but we’re forced to be closed down in less than 24 hours after resumption due to some of the schools were submerged while others are being occupied by people displaced by the flood..

Our correspondent learnt that the last time the dam collapsed was in 1994, which led to unprecedented flooding in Maiduguri, with nearly half of the town submerged.

Share on Facebook

News

Eagle Times Newspaper Will Be Voice for Nigerians – Publisher Chukwunyere Vows

Published

5 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Publisher of The Eagle Times Nigeria, Sir Ikechukwu Chukwunyere, has pledged that the newspaper will promote accountability, credible journalism and public-interest reporting in its coverage of national affairs.
Chukwunyere made the commitment on Thursday, October 1, 2026, during the official unveiling and launch of The Eagle Times Nigeria.

He said the new media organisation was established not merely to add another newspaper to Nigeria’s media landscape, but to provide a platform committed to serving the public interest.

According to him, the newspaper’s guiding philosophy, “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation,” places a responsibility on the organisation to listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight issues affecting their daily lives and scrutinise those entrusted with public responsibilities.

“To be a voice for the people means that we must listen to Nigerians, tell their stories, highlight their concerns and give visibility to issues that affect their daily lives,” he said.

The publisher added that The Eagle Times would be guided by accuracy, fairness, professionalism, credibility and responsible journalism, stressing that the newspaper would not publish stories merely because they were sensational.

“We will verify. We will investigate. We will seek the other side. We will correct our mistakes when we make them,” he said.

Chukwunyere further stated that the newspaper would endeavour to give individuals and organisations the opportunity to respond whenever allegations were made against them.
“Our commitment is not to any political party, government or individual. Our primary commitment is to journalism, to truth and to the Nigerian public,” he said.

He noted that the newspaper was launching at a time when the media industry was undergoing rapid transformation, with audiences increasingly consuming news through digital platforms, including websites, television, podcasts and social media.

He said The Eagle Times would therefore operate as a multimedia organisation, combining its newspaper with digital platforms and The Eagle Times TV to reach audiences across different channels.

According to him, the organisation also intends to create opportunities for young journalists, writers, photographers, producers, digital creators and other media professionals to develop their skills and contribute to journalism and national development.

Chukwunyere said the newspaper’s coverage would include politics, governance, business, economy, security, judiciary, education, health, technology, sports, entertainment, lifestyle and international affairs.

He, however, said the organisation intended to distinguish itself not only by the subjects it covered but by the quality and approach of its journalism.

We want to tell stories that matter, we want to investigate issues that require investigation, we want to highlight Nigerians who are making a difference, and we want to give communities that are often ignored an opportunity to be heard,” he said.

The publisher acknowledged the challenges involved in establishing a newspaper, saying the venture required investment, commitment, professional discipline and the courage to pursue an idea.

He expressed appreciation to the management, editorial, reporting, production and digital teams, as well as families, friends, partners and supporters who contributed to the establishment of the organisation.

Chukwunyere also assured readers, viewers and the newspaper’s digital audience that The Eagle Times would strive to earn their trust and remain accountable to the standards it had set for itself.

He said the newspaper’s success would not be measured only by circulation figures, website traffic or social media followers, but also by the confidence Nigerians placed in its journalism.

“Today, we spread our wings. Today, The Eagle Times takes flight,” he said, reaffirming the newspaper’s commitment to its slogan: “The Voice for the People, The Watchdog for the Nation.”

Share on Facebook