Borno’s Economy Under Threat, MP Tells ECOWAS Parliament

A Nigerian member of the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS Parliament) has warned that the £5.175 billion Borno state economy in Nigeria’s northeast region is facing significant threat following the recent flood disaster that ravaged the state.

Hon. Zainab Gimba made this known in a press conference during the induction training for members of the 6th Legislature at the ongoing 2024 Third Extraordinary Session and Second Parliamentary Seminar of the ECOWAS Parliament in Lome, Togo.

She said “Borno state is the fifth largest non-oil and gas economy in Nigeria with an estimated Gross product of £5.175 billion. The effects of the floods have adversely affected the growth and development of trade and commerce in the region and it is important to draw the attention of the ECOWAS Parliament.”

Borno state, reputed as the commercial hub  in the old Kanem-Borno empire lying across the major trade routes between West Africa, the Central Africa, and East African region even in modern times, is still struggling  with enormous threats to its economy and the misery the floods brought on the people.

The Alau Dam breached its banks in the early hours of 10 September, causing flooding in Maiduguri, Borno state capital and other parts of the state. Before this incident, heavy rainfall flooded many areas of Borno state affecting road access and submerging houses.

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According to Gimba, the floods had displaced over 2 million households with an estimated number of deaths running into hundreds of people as thousands have lost their homes and livelihoods in a region already facing food insecurity following protracted periods of terrorism and violent extremism.

The Nigerian governments at all levels, international organisations and some privileged individuals have made donations to the state government to help cushion the effects of the floods.