Flooding: Borno marks 1,300 houses on waterways, river banks for demolition

Borno State Government has declared that 1,300 houses standing on waterways and river banks in the state capital, Maiduguri, have been marked for demolition.

The action is coming on the heels of some parts of the Borno state capital, which in the last two months have been submerged by floods.

Speaking during a press conference on in Maiduguri, the Executive Secretary, Borno Geographic Information Service, Adam Bababe, explained that the situation calls for urgent attention; hence the illegal structures built on waterways have to give way.

Bababe, said, there is nothing like witch-hunting or religious sentiment in the demolition exercise, adding that fruitful discussions were held with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria in Borno who showed understanding that the action is to save homes from being submerged by flood.

According to him, “Over 1300 houses that are built on waterways have been marked for demolition. If we leave the houses that way without removal, many houses in the metropolis will be submerged by flood.”

He advised residents to stop building on areas that are not suitable for construction of houses particularly waterways and river banks.

He warned that those who acquired illegal lands and built on them should know that the consequence is demolition without compensation.