Flooding has devastated at least 225 towns across 31 local government areas in Kano and Jigawa State, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
This comes as NEMA has urged people and stakeholders to take adequate proactive steps to prevent the ongoing flooding that is devastating numerous towns.
Dr Nuradden Abdullahi, Coordinator of NEMA Territorial Office in Kano, announced this at a press conference on Saturday in Kano.
He said that strong and sustained rains since July had caused serious and widespread flooding in numerous villages in northern Nigeria.
Recall that a few days ago, heavy rains destroyed numerous towns in Kano and Jigawa states, resulting in the loss of life and property worth millions of naira.
According to Abdullahi, “flood has so far damaged 225 villages in 31 Local Government Areas in Kano and Jigawa states,” with significant devastation of buildings, infrastructure, displacement of people, and loss of crops and animals.
According to him, the impacted 31 Kano State local government areas include Tudun Wada, Doguwa, Kibiya, Kiru, Gwale Danbatta, Bagwai, Ajingi, Albasu, Shanono, Tsanyawa, Rimin Gado, and Dawakin Kudu.
Other Jigawa State Local Government Areas include Kafin hausa, Malam madori, Hadejia, Guri, Kirikasamma, Kaugama, Babura, Gwaram, Dutse,Gwiwa,maigatari,Gumel, Birniwa, Jahun, Miga, Kiyawa, and Birnin Kudu.
In a media conference earlier this month, NiMet DG warned that rainfall over normal is forecast in 19 Northern states, including Kano and Jigawa, between August and September 2022. He urged governments to strengthen mitigation, adaptation, and response measures.
“On that point,” he stated, “I advised authorities and stakeholders to transition from a reactive to a proactive role and draw out better emergency preparation strategies to prevent against such situations.”
Abdullahi also urged authorities to launch active public awareness campaigns for potential response operations, particularly in high-risk regions, in order to prevent more casualties.
“Residents should heed early warning signals and continue cleaning drainage systems and canals to allow flood water to flow freely,” he said.
