NEMA warns of flooding in 19 Jigawa LGAs

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) says 19 LGAs in Jigawa are at risk of flooding.

Zaubaida Umar, NEMA director-general, said this on Thursday at the ‘Downscaling and Sensitisation of the Flood Early Warning Strategies for Early Actions’ in Dutse.

Umar, who was represented by Nura Abdullahi, NEMA coordinator in Kano, said the state falls within the high and moderate flood risk areas.

“These LGAs are already listed on the earlier NEMA communication to the government of Jigawa,” Umar said.

“I call for support in this initiative of downscaling flood early warning and risk mitigation to the grassroots.”

She said the affected LGAs include Kaugama, Hadejia, Auyo, Ringim, Taura, Miga, Jahun, Guri, Kirikasamma, Malammadori, Gumel, Gwaram, Dutse, Birniwa, Kiyawa, Kafinhausa, Suletankarkar, Babura and Maigatari.

Umar said the exercise will go a long way in reducing the impact of recurring floods and safeguard the lives of the people of the state.

“As we always emphasise, disaster management is everybody’s business, therefore we must work together to safeguard communities at risk, protect critical infrastructure and support uninterrupted socio-economic activities in Jigawa state,” she added.

Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa, said the state government has taken proactive measures to mitigate the impact of the flood across the state.

Namadi, who was represented by Aminu Usman, his deputy, said his administration will ensure that lives and property are safeguarded.