Kaduna, Katsina and Kano States have relocated people living in flood plains, to avert flood disasters.
The Kaduna State government on its own has dredged River Kaduna to reduce the annual flooding of the river and its tributaries.
With the dredging, the depth of the waterline had increased between 2.5 meters and 3metres, and its tributaries to at least 1.5 to 2 metres.
The Director Environment, Kaduna Capital Territory Authority, Dr Haira’u Umar said the dredging has reduced flooding in Kaduna metropolis and its environs, adding that the dredging would continue.
The flood-prone communities are Hayin Danmani, Kamazou, Kabala West, Rafinguza and other flood plains within Kaduna North, Kaduna South, Chikun and Igabi Local Government Areas.
Similarly, the state Director of Environment, Yusuf Muazu said the government has been working with stakeholders on flood mitigation efforts.
He said the Ministry of Environment and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) had installed Automated Flood Early Warning Systems and Weather Stations as part of efforts to mitigate flooding.
Similarly, the State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) had identified people living along waterways, documented them, and commenced demolition of some of the houses, in collaboration with relevant agencies in the state.
Muhammed Mukaddas, the KADSEMA Executive Secretary, disclosed that following NiMet’s seasonal prediction of 2022 probable risks, 5,000 Households were assessed and supported with N35,000 unconditional cash transfers each, to temporarily relocate to safety.
“UNICEF through Red Cross and SOCU disbursed the sum of N175 million to 5,000 households to enable the vulnerable residents afford temporary shelters ahead of the flash flood,” Mukaddas said.
In a related development, in Katsina State, where flood recently claimed the lives of two persons in the state capital, the Governor, Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State says he would introduce measures that would prevent flood disasters.
Radda did not however give details on the measures he will take to mitigate flooding, which has already affected many communities in Katsina, the state capital.
Similarly, the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), said it has been monitoring and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to implement strategies and emergency responses to mitigate flooding in the state.
The Executive Secretary, Alhaji Isyaku Kubarachi, said the Local Emergency Management Committees, non-governmental and civil society organisations, have embarked on sensitization campaigns on radio, television markets, the five Emirate Councils and communities across the 44 local government areas of the state to ensure they clear waterways to minimize flooding,” he said.
NEMA’s Kano Territorial Coordinator, Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, called for strict enforcement of environmental regulations to mitigate flooding, and advised residents to avoid using substandard building materials.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) predicted severe flooding in 2023 based on the annual flood outlook released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, and urged relevant authorities to take appropriate action.
