Following a  heavy downpour on Saturday, the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency has alerted the public of imminent flood hence the need for all hands to be on deck to avoid what it calls inconsequential loss of lives

The Executive Secretary of the Agency, Abubakar Hassan gave the warning in a statement issued after an assessment tour of some flood prone areas of   Kaduna metropolis

In the statement, The Executive Executive said, “Following the downpour of Yesterday 8th May 2021, the Executive Secretary called for an emergency meeting which was resolved to visit the flood prone areas within the State Metropolis. The State Technical Working Group otherwise known as Disaster Mitigation and Management Platform were the major stakeholders that took part in today’s exercise. Members were drawn from NEMA, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Ministry of Education, Media and representatives of the Civil Society as well as the pioneer sponsors of the just concluded project of Early warning for Early Response, ie the Christian Aid.

“Areas visited include: Kigo Road, Barnawa, Romi, Karatudu, Gonin Gora and Nassarawa Kakuri. Evidence of flooding has been established from the Assessment done. Factors militating against smooth flow of water from the water ways include indiscriminate dumping of refuse and debris along the waterways, uncleared vegetation and construction as a result of the Urban Renewal Project going on in the State.

“Open defication has been a major issue in all the areas visited. And this has a health implication to the communities such as Cholera, Diarrhoea, Malaria from Mosquitoes.

“The objective of the exercise is to establish facts and re-echoe awareness and sensitization to the members of the public and intimate them of the fact that taking ownership of their immediate environment by keeping it clean and safe is the responsibility of not only the Government alone but also theirs.

“The recent prediction is imminent of the fact that likelihood of flood is inevitable. Therefore all hands must be on deck to avoid inconsequential loss of lives and properties as well as negative impact on the environment.

“Farmers are also advised to heed to warnings and advice from expert on the right time to farm to avoid the impact on Food Security. The government has shown concern over the non-challant attitude of the public and pledged to decisively deal with defaulters particularly on indiscriminate disposal of refuse”, the statement concludes.

To enhance operations of the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has provided three automatic Weather Observation Stations in support to NIHSA.

Speaking in Abuja, at the unveiling of the 2021 annual flood outlook by the NHSA, NEMA’s Director General, AVM Muhammadu Muhammed (rtd) said the weather stations are at various stages of installations are located in Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti and Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State

According to AVM Muhammed, NEMA values “collaboration with our partners and are ready to strengthen the multi-agency approach to disaster risk reduction.”

He said the weather stations will be useful for hydrological predictions and also to train students in the field of Geography, Engineering, Agriculture, meteorology, climate change and other sciences.

Reviewing the flood of last year, he said “COVID-19 Pandemic reduced States and communities’ abilities to cope with climate induced disasters, thus imposing more burden on Federal Government Agencies to mitigate and respond to disasters.

“However, despite the gloomy nature of the pandemic, presenting a case of disaster within a disaster, our advocacy and engagement with stakeholders in 2020 led to reduction in the negative impacts of flood on the people.

“A total of 2,353,647 people were affected by 2020 flood disaster, but 69 lives were lost compared with the 158 lives but only 277,555 affected in 2019. “

Further according to him, “One of the lessons learnt during the 2020 flood after action review meeting is the need for proper utilization of our dams in the country. When dams meant for irrigation purposes are used for dry season agriculture, they acquire more capacities to hold more water in the rainy season. In addition, a timely controlled release of water from dams will reduce panic release of water during rainy season that can lead to further flooding”

As part of strategy for this year’s flood management, the NEMA DG said the Agency will ensure that all states and communities that are vulnerable to flood received timely warnings through community engagement, television programmes and information, education and communication materials amongst other public enlightenment activities that would be carried out.

The Minister of Water Resources Engr Suleiman Adamu who unveiled the AFO said the document was a clarion call to all stakeholders to rise and set up appropriate mechanism such as clearing the waterways and flood paths as well as maintaining proper water disposal management practices to curtail the ravages of the impending flood and threats of COVID-19.

Manzo Ezekiel

Head Media and Public Relations

NEMA, Abuja

6th May 2021