MAIDUGURI, Nigeria, Sept 19 (Askume) – Canoe owners helped residents get to safety when floods hit the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri last week. But residents say they are now being defrauded by canoe owners who charge them hefty fees to carry their belongings.
Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, is suffering its worst flooding in three decades , with heavy rains bursting dams. Flooding has also hit many parts of West and Central Africa.
Since many areas in Maiduguri are closed to vehicles, residents can only travel by canoe.
Falmata Muhammad, a 48-year-old mother of three, said she decided to move some furniture this week when the canoe owner charged her 80,000 naira ($49.56) for the excursion, a charge she was shocked was more than the monthly minimum wage.
She lost nearly everything in the flood, and she was upset by the fact that “some people are taking advantage of this to build a big business and make a lot of money by taking advantage of this disaster.”
Fisherman and canoe owner Mohammed Yusuf said he still provides free boats to residents, but some residents are willing to pay to use his canoes.
(1 USD = 1,614.2000 Naira)
