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ALAU DAM Collapse: Our Livelihoods Washed Away By Flood – Borno Residents

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Following the collapse of the Alau Dam in Maiduguri, Borno State, residents have lamented that their livelihoods have been washed away.

The dam collapsed on Tuesday, causing a humanitarian crisis in the Borno State capital as flood devastated much of the metropolis, leaving thousands of residents trapped.

From officials 37 people have been killed as a result of the flood, while prisoners have also escaped.

It was also gathered that graveyards had been submerged while dangerous animals had crept into the communities, of which about 75 per cent had been taken over by water.

The Shehu of Borno’s palace, the State Secretariat, Customs, the State Specialist Hospital, UNIMAID, and Gwange areas have been submerged by floodwaters following the collapse of the Alau Dam in the Konduga local government area of Borno State.

Millionaires’ Quarters around Gamboru Ward and its environs have been consumed. The famous Lagos Bridge, which was overtaken by the flood, has also been blocked, as has the Moduganari bypass bridge, which has similarly been submerged.

The Zoo Road was also flooded, with water gushing into the College of Health Technology Maiduguri, where students had already been relocated to the School of Nursing. The water also flowed towards the Commissioner of Police junction via Damboa Road.

Aisha Umar, a mother of seven and tomato seller at the famous Gamboru Ngala vegetable market, said most of her items were washed away by the flood. They were unaware of what happened because there was no rain.

She said that the little she made from her daily sales was used to support her husband, who was doing a menial job, to augment the needs of their family of seven.

The devastated Aisha, who is among the Gamboru vegetable sellers now displaying their goods at the front of the Stadium Shopping Complex Station Kano in the Moduganari area of Maiduguri following their temporary relocation by the State government, said their homes in the Customs area of Maiduguri were equally overtaken by the flood, rendering them homeless.

She said the flood even pulled down the muddy section of their house, adding that they now reside around the Moduganari area with relatives as displaced persons.

“We are appealing to the government to come to our aid and provide relief for our immediate needs. Feeding has become a challenge for the children as the little income we were getting before is no longer forthcoming,” she said.

For Muhammed Abba, a resident of Lagos Street in the new GRA area of Maiduguri, one of the channels from which the flood raged, the whole situation appeared like a dream because he least expected such a level of flooding at home since there had been no rainfall.

He said he was at home when he heard his neighbour’s alarm around 2 a.m. that fateful day. Upon inquiring about the reason for the alarm, the neighbours alerted him that a flood was approaching their home.

Abba said he was still discussing the approaching water when he noticed the entire area around the house gradually submerged.

He said it was then that he evacuated his family members to the Polo area of Maiduguri before returning to find the house submerged as high as his height. Hence, he fled to join his family in the Polo area, where he had taken them.

In a similar vein, another resident of the Customs area of Maiduguri, Bala Saidu, who fled with his family to the Baga Road area of Maiduguri when the flood submerged their house, said that the whole situation felt like a nightmare he would never wish on anyone.

“We were sleeping when we suddenly noticed that water was flooding into our house, even though there had been no rain in the area even the previous day. While trying to clear our belongings out of the house, the flood suddenly raged in, forcing us to abandon our belongings and flee for our safety.

“As I speak with you, there is not much left for me to feed my family. If urgent help doesn’t come from the government, many of us, the victims of this flood, might die of starvation. The flood has submerged my provision store, which is the source of our livelihood.

“We need assistance from the government and spirited individuals to cushion the effect of what has occurred to us. We don’t have clothes and other necessities for our children,” Malam Saidu said.

Meanwhile, Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, who visited the various temporary centres where the flood victims were relocated in the capital, said that over one million citizens have been affected by the flood.

“We have separated them into different camps and are already providing support. We will come up with long-term and short-term measures as soon as we take the data of the people affected.

“The water this year exceeded the dam’s capacity, and we had hefty rainfall, possibly due to climate change. What we need to do now is to reconstruct the dam.

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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