The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMET, has warned Kano State residents of impending flooding in 14 out of the 44 Local Government Areas of the state.
The NIMET Kano/Jigawa Territorial Coordinator, Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, issued the warning at a Disaster Risk Management Stakeholders Coordination Meeting on Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook in Kano.
Abdullahi named the LGAs to include Rimin Gado, Tofa, Kabo, Madobi, Garum Malam, Bebeji, Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Warawa, Wudil, Sumaila, Ajingi, Kura and Dala.
According to him, five other LGAs, Karaye, Takai, Bunkure, Dawakin Tofa and Makoda, were moderately prone to high risk flooding.
He, however, said that the rest 25 LGAs were at low risk, naming them to 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.
Abdullahi said the meeting was to marshal out plans on the best ways to avert the predicted flooding across the state.
The coordinator stated that the meeting, in collaboration with the Kano State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, became imperative to remind stakeholders of their responsibilities regarding the impact of climate change and the expensive nature of environmental disaster.
He identified women and children as mostly affected during the rainy season and urged people in flood prone areas to take preventive measures before the season.
Also speaking, the state’s Commissioner for Humanitarian and Poverty Eradication, Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, said the State Government had set up a high-powered committee led by the deputy governor, Malam Aminu Abdulsalam, to evacuate drainages across the 44 LGAs to prevent flooding.
“Careful planning for preparedness and response can significantly curtail disasters or emergencies across communities,” she said.
