‘200 houses destroyed’ as flood wreaks havoc on Kaduna communities

The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) says no fewer than 200 houses have been destroyed by flood in Sabon-Gari and Zaria LGAs.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Usman Mazadu, the executive secretary of the agency, lamented the flash floods caused by torrential rainfall in the state.

He said the persistent rainfall has led to rising water levels and severe overflow of nearby rivers.

Mazadu said the state government has taken measures such as desilting drainages and conducting sensitisation campaigns to mitigate the impact of the flood.

The executive secretary urged people living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer places until the rainy season ends.

Mazadu also encouraged farmers to utilise the alternative land provided by the government or transplant their crops to higher grounds.

The federal government had warned that 148 LGAs in 31 states were at risk of severe flooding from April to November 2024.

It added that 249 LGAs in 36 states, including the federal capital territory (FCT), fall within the “moderate flood risk states”.

On August 15, NEMA said 227,494 people and damaged 32,837 houses in 27 states were affected by flooding.

The agency added that flood disasters damaged 16,488 hectares of farmlands in the affected states.