Rainy season: Kaduna to relocate residents in flood-prone areas

The Kaduna government says it will relocate people living in flood-prone areas across the state as the rainy season begins.

According to NAN, the state’s emergency management agency (KADSEMA) announced the development when it’s officials visited flood-prone areas on Wednesday.

Muhammed Mukaddas, executive secretary of the agency, said the flood prediction released by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) shows there would be heavy rainfall in 2022 and resultant flooding.

He said some areas have become unsafe to live in, and that the state’s standing committee on flood assessment is working to ensure it save lives and property.

“We have also commenced desilting and flushing of drains and riverine areas ahead of the rainy season to reduce the vulnerability and possibilities of flooding,” he said.

“We also sensitised the residents on the need to take up the responsibility of desilting and also avoid dumping waste into water ways.

“We advised them to be on the alert and vacate the areas when the rain becomes overwhelming.”

He added that the agency has begun documenting people living along waterways, while demolition of some of the houses that might be affected has started.

Zakariya Solomon, a representative of the Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority (KASUPDA), said the agency is working with stakeholders to reduce the effects of flood in communities.

He also said efforts are being made to relocate people from areas that experience flooding regularly, to alternative sites.

“We will assess them individually and see if they have the relevant documents that the government will use in compensating them,” he added.