- Maiduguri faces severe food shortages after floods submerged markets, causing prices to soar and leaving residents struggling to find essentials
- Health concerns rise as floodwaters affect hospitals, with fears of cholera and other diseases, while Governor Zulum distributes cash to displaced residents
There is growing concern over a severe shortage of food and other essential commodities in Maiduguri, as thousands of residents struggle to survive after devastating floods.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the flood has submerged major markets, including grain, fruit, and vegetable depots in the town, and many shopping complexes and plazas remain closed. This has led to a shortage of food items, causing prices of the few available ones to soar.
“It is difficult to find foodstuff now as all major markets are submerged. I can’t operate my restaurant despite customer pressure because the foodstuff I stocked has been exhausted,” said Hajara Mohammed, a local restaurant owner.
Other food vendors, including Amina Isa, Rhoda Abdullahi, and Jummai Mohammed, reported that their stocks had also been exhausted and that they had no place to restock.
NAN also reports that the health sector has been affected, with the floodwaters submerging the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Maiduguri Specialist Hospital. Concerns are rising over potential public health crises, including outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and other waterborne diseases. Residents are particularly worried as the flood has washed away corpses from the Maiduguri cemetery.
In response, Governor Babagana Zulum visited several emergency camps and distributed cash to displaced persons as they awaited the arrival of food supplies.