🌊 Maiduguri Floods Open New Economic Lifeline for Canoe Paddlers

Maiduguri, Borno State — What many residents initially feared as a tragedy has, ironically, opened up a new source of livelihood for some. The recent floods that submerged parts of Maiduguri, displacing households and dividing communities, have created an unexpected boom for canoe paddlers.

With rising water levels cutting off access to several parts of the metropolis, movement across submerged roads and communities has become nearly impossible without canoes. This situation has transformed canoe operators into essential service providers — and with that necessity has come a sudden economic opportunity.

Residents now rely heavily on these paddlers for daily transportation, access to markets, and even emergency movement of people and goods. For the paddlers, this is a season of increased demand and daily profits, even as communities grapple with the hardships of displacement.

One resident described the scene humorously:

"In Maiduguri now, you don’t call Keke Napep or Okada, you just shout ‘canoe!’ and someone will appear. We are living in Venice by force."

Yet beneath the humor lies a sobering truth. The floods have destroyed homes, disrupted livelihoods, and exposed the vulnerability of infrastructure in flood-prone regions of Nigeria. While canoe paddlers may be benefiting temporarily, thousands of residents remain at risk, waiting for relief efforts and long-term solutions from both state and federal authorities.

Moral Lesson

This development underscores a vital truth about life: where some see obstacles, others see opportunities. Just as the canoe paddlers turned floodwaters into a source of income, we too must learn to turn our challenges into stepping stones. The Bible says in Romans 8:28 — “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

As Maiduguri’s residents continue to navigate these waters — literally and figuratively — their resilience serves as a lesson in adaptation, survival, and the pursuit of hope in difficult times.

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✍️ By Prince O. D. Agbedeyi PhD

🌐 Global Egberi Media International
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Tags: #MaiduguriFloods #BornoState #CanoePaddlers #FloodEconomy #GlobalEgberi