By Samuel Luka
The Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, has asserted that nine Local Government Areas in Bauchi State would experience possible high and moderate risk of flood this year.
Zubaida Umar, who made this known at a sensitisation programme for the 2024 down-scaling of flood early warning strategies for early actions in Bauchi on Monday, called for early mitigation action against the predicted 2024 flood disaster in the State.
According to her, it is imperative to downscale and sensitise stakeholders on the 2024 flood early warning strategies for effective early actions to save lives and livelihoods during the rainy season.
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She noted that Bauchi has in the past been severely impacted by flood for the rainy season, adding that some local government areas of the State are still predicted to be affected by flooding.
“These LGAs which are under high and moderate flood risk areas include Toro, Itas Gadau, Bauchi , Jama’are, Shira ,Zaki Ganjuwa ,Warji and Katagum,” she said.
Represented by Mr Garba Mohammed, Director Internal Audit of the Agency, the NEMA DG said the Agency’s mandate includes coordinating emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response activities across Nigeria.
She noted that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have predicted flood high-risk areas in several states and local government areas (LGAs) from April to November.
The DG further explained that the two federal government agencies have both released the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) respectively for 2024.
She also called on stakeholders to work together to safeguard communities at risk, protect critical infrastructures, and support what she termed uninterrupted socio-economic activities in the country, from flooding.
The DG also recommended community sensitisation, clearing of waterways, monitoring of dam discharge, and relocation of flood-prone communities.
Umar stressed the need for regular coordination meetings among emergency sectors to effectively respond to adverse climate-related situations.
She also reiterated the Agency’s’ commitment to reducing the impact of predicted flooding and providing necessary support to affected persons.
Earlier, Mr Mashud Aliyu, Director General (DG) Bauchi State Emergency Agency (SEMA), explained that the State government has already started the flood awareness campaign by meeting with stakeholders in the emergency sector.
He urged the stakeholders to actively participate in the sensitisation programmes, and support the initiative from the grassroots, to mitigate the flood disaster in the state
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