Schools in Niger will start the new academic year almost a month late because of heavy rainfall and flooding, says the military government. “Several schools have been affected, and others are being occupied by those impacted,” a government spokesperson said on the state-run broadcaster. Authorities have pushed the start date from 2 to 28 October.

When floods swept through Nigeria's northeastern city of Maiduguri last week, canoe owners volunteered to help move residents to safety. But residents say they are now being ripped off by the canoe owners charging steep fees to move their belongings.

Flood warnings had been ringing out across Nigeria’s north-east for weeks. Schools in Maiduguri were closed for a fortnight as the torrential rains came. The reservoir of the Alau Dam began to overflow;

STORY: In Nigeria's flood-hit Maiduguri, residents say some boat owners are taking advantage of this natural disaster to cash in.When floodwaters swept through the northeastern city last week, turning roads into rivers,