The Borno Government has intensified measures to curb flooding across the state through river dredging, construction of culverts and drainage systems, and other water-management interventions.
The Secretary of the Borno High Committee on Flood and Water-Related Matters, Mr Babagana Sa’ad, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
Sa’ad said the interventions were part of the government’s proactive strategy to prevent flooding and reduce its impact on communities vulnerable to water-related disasters.
He said the committee was working with agencies including the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assess annual flood forecasts and develop appropriate preparedness measures.
According to him, the committee recently reviewed the 2026 flood outlook with NiMet and NEMA.
He said Maiduguri was not identified as a flood-risk area in the 2026 forecast, while Shani and Mobar Local Government Areas were listed as areas at potential risk of flooding.
Sa’ad said the government subsequently deployed measures to mitigate the anticipated risks in the affected areas.
In Damasak, Mobar LGA, he said the government constructed an enlarged culvert after an assessment found that the existing structure was inadequate and contributed to recurrent flooding. “Since that construction, we have not had any report of flooding in Damasak,” he said.
The official said the committee also set up a subcommittee to investigate flooding around Bargu in Shani LGA.
He said the assessment found that siltation in the Bargu River was restricting water flow and causing the river to overflow its banks.
“The Bargu River has been dredged and a substantial volume of sand removed to give free flow of stormwater,” he said.
Sa’ad said the intervention had helped reduce flooding in the area, adding that the committee recommended the construction of Reno mattresses along vulnerable sections of the riverbank to strengthen erosion control.
He explained that Reno mattresses are slope-protection structures used to stabilize riverbanks and prevent further erosion.
The secretary recalled that the 2024 flood caused significant damage along the Dikwa road, where floodwater cut off the federal highway and disrupted movement for residents and travelers.
Although the road is under federal jurisdiction, he said the state government constructed a 10-cell culvert at the affected location to improve the flow of stormwater.
Sa’ad added that the government had constructed drainage systems through the Ministry of Works, the Borno State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA), and the Ministry of Environment in various parts of the state.
He said the drainage projects were designed to collect and channel runoff away from communities and reduce flood risks.
The committee, he said, had also identified and cleared River Tiffa and River Kifi, as well as water channels from Bulunkutu and Gomari leading to River Ngadabul and onward through Kano Motor Park to River Yezram.
He said the exercise was aimed at restoring water flow, reducing pressure on waterways and protecting riverbanks.
Sa’ad said the government’s flood and erosion control efforts also included tree-planting campaigns and watershed management initiatives.
He urged residents to support the measures by avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels, keeping waterways clear and protecting riverbanks.
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He stressed that sustainable flood control required continued collaboration among government agencies, traditional institutions and communities.
According to him, the interventions are expected to improve safety, mobility and livelihoods in vulnerable communities while reducing the damage caused by flooding and erosion.
