The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a warning that 362 vulnerable communities across 14 local governments in Kano State are at high risk of flooding.
This was announced on Thursday at a one-day stakeholders meeting in Kano by Mrs. Zubaida Umar, the Director-General of NEMA.
The topic of the meeting was Solid Waste Management and Flood Preparedness: Downscaling 2024 Flood Early Warning Strategies for Grassroots Action.
The theme of the workshop is: “Enhancing Community Resilience through Effective Solid Waste Management and Proactive Flood Preparedness”.
According to Umar, who was accompanied by Dr. Nuraddeen Abdullahi, the NEMA Territorial Coordinator for the Kano Office, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency AFO estimated that 3,749,200 people in the state were at risk of flooding.
Rimin Gado, Tofa, Kabo, Madobi, Garun Malam, Bebeji, Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Warawa, Wudil, Sumaila, Ajingi, Kura, and Dala were among the local governments she mentioned.
According to Umar, the meeting’s other goal was to put into practice practical preventative measures that would save lives and sustain livelihoods during the rainy season.
“Floods of 2012 and 2022 have highlighted the critical need for coordinated efforts across all levels of government in managing disaster risks.
“Kano state has historically experienced severe impacts from floods, and the current predictions highlight that certain areas will continue to face challenges, especially with improper solid waste disposal in our communities,” she said
The DG emphasised the need to collaborate to sensitise the public on waste management as well as downscaling flood early warning and risk mitigation at the grassroots levels.
“Improper solid waste disposal affects the environment, human health as well as the economy, due to uncontrolled dumping of large amounts of wastes, which prevent rainwater from flowing freely leading to overflow and flooding.
Umar noted that NEMA has engaged in extensive planning and analysis, Stakeholders’ Technical Meetings and an Emergency Coordination Forum.
“Disaster management is everyone’s business. By coming together, we can protect our communities, preserve critical infrastructure, and maintain socio-economic stability in Kano state.
“This aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed focus on socio-economic growth and development under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu,” Umar said.
Amina Abdullahi, the Kano state commissioner for humanitarian and poverty alleviation, reaffirmed Gov. Abba Yusuf’s pledge to shield the populace from emergencies and disasters.
Abdullahi praised the workshop’s organizers while being represented by Mr. Mustafa Yunusa, the Ministry’s Director of Disaster Management and Rapid Response.
Amadu Haruna-Zago, the Managing Director of the Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board, pleaded with locals to stop disposing of their trash along roads and in waterways.
Isyaku Abudullahi-Kubarachi, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), also praised NEMA and other stakeholders for their efforts to raise public awareness of disaster issues.
According to NAN, NEMA, SEMA, and the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change organized the workshop.
NAN
