Residents of Kano State have been warned by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) that 14 of the state’s 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) may experience high risk floods.
This was disclosed at a Disaster Risk Management Stakeholders Coordination Meeting on Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook in Kano by Dr. Nuradeen Abdullahi, the NIMET Kano/Jigawa Territorial Coordinator.
Dr. Abdullahi Listed the Projected LGAs to include: Rimin Gado, Tofa, Kabo, Madobi, Garum Malam, Bebeji, Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Warawa, Wudil, Sumaila, Ajingi, Kura and Dala. He said that five other LGAs- Karaye, Takai, Bunkure, Dawakin Tofa and Makoda, were moderately prone to high risk flooding.
However, according to Abdullahi, there was no risk associated with the remaining 25 LGAs, which 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.
The purpose of the conference, according to him, was to organise strategies for preventing the state’s anticipated flooding.
He added that in order to remind stakeholders of their obligations about the effects of climate change and the costly nature of environmental disasters, a meeting in conjunction with the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) became required.
Abdullahi noted that women and children are the groups most impacted by flooding during the rainy season and asked residents in high-risk regions to take precautions in advance.
In her remarks, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, the state’s commissioner for humanitarian relief and poverty eradication, stated that the state government has established a strong committee headed by deputy governor Malam Aminu Abdulsalam to clear drainage systems throughout the 44 local government units (LGAs) in order to avert flooding.
“Thoughtful preparation and response planning can greatly reduce disasters or emergencies throughout communities,” she stated.
The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s pledge to shield the locals from environmental and natural disasters.
