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KANO – The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday, engaged stakeholders and members of Doka community in Tofa Local Government Area of Kano on flood preparedness and response campaign and related hazards.
Hajiya Zubaida Umar, the Director-General of NEMA, disclosed this during the agency’s Stakeholders’ Engagement on the 2025 National Preparedness and Response Campaign on the menance.
The initiative aims to promote early action to save lives and livelihoods during the 2025 rainy season.
The event themed: “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response” was organised in collaboration with the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Represented by NEMA Kano Territorial Coordinator, Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, Umar said that the sensitisation aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, in driving socioeconomic growth and development.
Abdullahi, represented by NEMA Kano Head of Admin and Human Resources, Suleiman Sa’ad-Abubakar, noted that the campaign would significantly reduce the impact of recurring floods and safeguard people’s livelihoods.
“In the recent past, lives have been lost, and infrastructure worth billions of Naira destroyed due to floods. Many Nigerians have suffered injuries and the lost life time savings.
“NEMA has produced vulnerability maps for all communities at risk to serve as tools to guide governments at all levels in developing risk reduction measures to avert disaster loss.
“Public and private institutions, humanitarian, non governmental organisations, school children and youth organisations are expected to leverage these early warning tools to support the efforts of NEMA and other government institutions.
“NEMA has also developed disaster mitigation strategies, which includes capacity building of local emergency responders, stimulation exercises, rain water harvesting and adherence to predicted rainfall onset before planting for farmers.
“Others are desilting of drainages and natural waterways, integrity tests for critical infrastructure, evacuation plans, community-based information sharing and increased safety and security surveillance in identified vulnerable communities,” Umar said.
The DG highlighted some of the disaster risk management implications which includes impact on socioeconomic, healthcare, rain-fed agriculture, transportation, energy telecommunication, education, security among others.
She called on traditional institutions, religious organisations, women , media and youth groups to support the agency in taking early warning messages to the people to safeguard against danger during the rainy season.
Alhaji Faruk Umar-Ibrahim, Secretary to the State Government, said Kano Central Senatorial District may experience moderate flood,while some gocal government areas in Kano North may experience severe spell draught based on predictions by relevant bodies.
Represented by the State Director General Services, Kawu Nasiru, he noted that disasters were all local.
“They happen in particular communities in a particular local government area, and the first life saving responders are always local
before additional support will come from the state capital.
“We must therefore strive to support our local emergency management communities (LEMC), with adequate capacity building, funding and
equipment to take disaster risk management to the communities,” he said.
He commended NEMA, SEMA, and other stakeholders for their collaborative efforts.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary Kano SEMA, Alhaji Isyaku Abdullahi-Kubarachi, describe the meeting as timely.
He noted that Governor Abba Yusuf had directed the clearing of drainages in Kano metropolis and instructed local government chairmen to take similar actions.
“Effective preparedness saves lives, livelihoods, money, and property. The need for joint and collaborative effort cannot be overstated,” he added.
Reports that NEMA concluded the event with a sensitisation campaign on flood and fire outbreaks at Rijiyar Zaki Government Secondary School and Doka community in Tofa LGA.(NAN)
