The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) has warned that 14 out of the 44 local government areas (LGAs) in Kano State are at high risk of flooding.
This alert was issued during a Disaster Risk Management Stakeholders Coordination Meeting on Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook held in Kano.
Dr. Nuradeen Abdullahi, the head of the NiMET Kano/Jigawa Territorial Office, identified the LGAs likely to experience high-risk flooding as Rimin Gado, Tofa, Kabo, Madobi, Garum Malam, Bebeji, Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Warawa, Wudil, Sumaila, Ajingi, Kura, and Dala.
The meeting aimed to inform and prepare stakeholders for potential flood events, emphasizing the importance of coordinated disaster risk management efforts to mitigate the impact on affected communities.
Dr.Abdullahi further added that five other LGAs—Karaye, Takai, Bunkure, Dawakin Tofa, and Makoda—were moderately prone to high-risk flooding.
He however hinted that the rest 25 LGAs were at low risk, naming them to include Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Kibiya, Garko, Albasu, Gaya, Kiru, Rogo, Gwarzo, Shanono, Tsanyawa, Bagwai, Bichi, Kunchi, Danbatta, Minjibir, Gabasawa, Gwale, Fagge, Nassarawa, Kano Municipal, Tarauni, Ungogo, Kumbotso, and Gezawa.
According to him, the meeting was to marshal out plans on the best ways to avert the predicted flooding across the state.
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He said the meeting, in collaboration with the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), became necessary to remind stakeholders of their responsibilities regarding the impact of climate change and the expensive nature of environmental disasters.
He identified women and children as mostly affected during the rainy season and urged people in flood-prone areas to take preventive measures before the season.
Earlier, the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian and Poverty Eradication, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, said the state government had set up a high-powered committee led by the deputy governor, Malam Aminu Abdulsalam, to evacuate drainages across the 44 LGAs to prevent flooding.
She then reiterated the government’s commitment to protect the residents against natural and environmental hazards.
He said that “Careful planning for preparedness and response can significantly curtail disasters or emergencies across communities,”
