Alhaji Kashim Imam, a former Parliamentary Liaison Officer to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, has stepped forward to support those affected by the devastating flood that have ravaged Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, and its surrounding areas. Imam, who has previously served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, is well-known for his philanthropic efforts. His latest initiative involves providing meals to the thousands of people displaced by the recent flood, which submerged over half of the city.
The catastrophic flooding resulted in unprecedented levels of destruction, claiming over 30 lives, destroying more than 23,000 homes, and displacing approximately 414,000 people. Additionally, critical infrastructure, including bridges, roads, electricity systems, healthcare facilities, and schools, suffered severe damage. An estimated one million people have lost their livelihoods due to this disaster, leaving the local population in dire need of support. In response to the crisis, Imam has taken it upon himself to provide immediate relief by distributing food to those affected.
Imam has temporarily relocated to Maiduguri to oversee the food distribution process in the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, ensuring that victims of the disaster receive necessary aid. During a press conference, he expressed his deep sorrow for the loss of life and the immense damage caused by the flood. “We are saddened by the shared numbers of lives lost, by our account, it’s running into hundreds and sadly their bodies are being discovered daily as water recedes. The carnage, the loss of lives, the loss of properties and unimaginable displacements,” Imam stated, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
His primary focus, he explained, is on providing food to those who have been left hungry and homeless. “The immediate emphasis is on food. I have seen people crying they haven’t eaten in two days, and this is an immediate concern of everybody. As water recedes and we count our losses, these other challenges will also come to the fore,” he said. He emphasized the need to act quickly in addressing the urgent needs of those affected.
In response to an appeal from Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, Imam has committed to delivering food and water to the flood victims as a first step in alleviating their suffering. “In line with the appeal of Governor Zulum, we elected to focus on alleviating the suffering of those affected by providing food and water with immediate effect. So, I am happy to inform you that I am providing a total of 200,000 food packs. We have already commenced with an average of 6,000 a day, and we wish to scale to 10,000 packs every day,” Imam announced during the press conference.
Imam’s intervention is only the first phase of a larger, more comprehensive plan to support the flood victims. He indicated that there are short, medium, and long-term strategies in place to assist those affected by the disaster. These plans aim not only to provide immediate relief but also to help the displaced population rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the flood.
Imam further expressed his profound sadness over the scale of the destruction in his hometown, Maiduguri, noting that the flood took everyone by surprise. “Almost every indigene of Borno is sad and saddened by the devastation that has befallen my hometown, Maiduguri. We are saddened by the sheer number of lives lost, which by all accounts is running into hundreds. Nobody can give you exact accurate figures. Still, and sadly, there are bodies that are being discovered daily as the water recedes. Sadly nobody has the most accurate figures. It is very factual that it runs into hundreds of lives lost,” he said, reflecting the emotional toll the disaster has taken on the local population.
The flood struck in the middle of the night, catching most people completely off guard. Thousands of residents were left homeless as their houses were destroyed by the rising waters. “Thousands of people are homeless. All their homes have been destroyed by the floods. Nobody was prepared for this; our people were caught unawares in the middle of the night. The floods came in the middle of the night, and all accounts point at between midnight and half past midnight. Most people were already home in bed and most were asleep. All were caught unawares. Nobody saw this coming, and nobody was prepared for this. The carnage, the loss of life, the loss of properties is enormous,” Imam lamented.
He explained that many of those who survived the disaster did so with only the clothes on their backs, having had no time to salvage their belongings before fleeing their homes. Out of Maiduguri’s 15 wards, only four were left unaffected, with the remaining 11 wards suffering significant damage. Even a week after the flood, some people were still trapped in their homes, unable to escape the floodwaters. The situation has left many residents in dire need of assistance.
Imam’s daughter, Fatima Imam, is also deeply involved in the relief efforts. She revealed that she and other family members have been working tirelessly to ensure that cooked meals are provided to as many victims as possible each day. “We try to feed as many people as possible every day. Sometimes we cook rice, stew, and beef, while other times jollof rice. We cook at least 20 bags of rice every day – we sleep by 4 a.m. and wake up by 6 a.m. just to make sure we get food across to the flood victims,” she said, underscoring the round-the-clock dedication her family has shown in helping those in need.
The ongoing relief efforts spearheaded by Imam and his family are vital in addressing the immediate needs of the flood victims. As the floodwaters gradually recede and the full extent of the damage becomes clear, the long-term recovery and rebuilding process will require sustained support from both the government and private individuals like Imam. His philanthropic efforts, coupled with broader assistance from various stakeholders, are crucial to ensuring that Maiduguri and its residents can recover from this unprecedented disaster.
