Muhammad Alabira, Dutse
Communities in Jigawa State have taken proactive measures following a prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) that 15 local government areas out 27 will possibly be affected by flooding during this year’s rainy season.
In view of this, the pro-active measures to prevent the flooding were detailed in the two documents launched and distributed to the public as well as government officials and the representatives of the three local government areas of Hadejia, Auyo, and Miga, jointly tagged HAM.
The three LGAs are the most prone to flooding among the 15 local government areas listed by NiMet. The documents, which contain all measures and strategies to curb flooding, will be distributed to all 27 LGAs to help address the annual disaster.
The launch and distribution of the two documents was carried out on Tuesday at AUYO local government area by Mr.Timothy Ali Yohanna, Coordinator, Disaster Management, Nigerian Red Cross Society, and Mr. Samuel Kaalu Communication Specialist of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Field Office, Kano.
The program which was sponsored by the UNICEF, and Nigerian Red Cross Society was funded by European Union Humanitarian Aid.
The summary of the document titled Community Emergency Response Plan (CERP) were done by Dr. Muhammad Sanusi, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Jigawa State, and Mr. Timothy Ali Yohanna, Coordinator of Disaster Management, Nigerian Red Cross Society.
Speaking at the gathering, Yohanna noted that measures put in place to prevent flooding include mitigation and pre-event interventions such as river embankment maintenance, community awareness campaigns, and sanitation drives to reduce flood risk and minimize impacts.
He said as contain in the documents, early warning dissemination, identification of safe evacuation sites, prepositioning of critical supplies, and training of response teams in first aid, search and rescue, and camp management as well as annual drills reinforce readiness.
Adding that in response, coordinated evacuation, operation of temporary IDP camps, provision of food, WASH, and medical services, and targeted protection measures for women, children, and persons with disabilities. LEMCs lead local coordination are done under state oversight.
Saying, early recovery and demobilization involve rapid damage assessment, safe return of displaced populations, resource accountability, rehabilitation of essential services, and livelihood restoration had been stated. Pointing out that, this include post-event reviews capture lessons to strengthen future responses.
While the summary of the document tagged “Hazard Mapping and Flood Risk Management Analysis” were signed by Honourable Hannafi Yakubu Fagam, Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Jigawa State, and Mr. Timothy Ali Yohanna, Coordinator of Disaster Management, Nigerian Red Cross Society.
This document indicated High-Risk Nodes: communities including Dubantu, Yankoli, Miga, Hantsu, Auyo, and Ayama face chronic annual Inundation.
In localized Risk, it stated that Matoto Maigatari LGA was identified as a site of localized pluvial flooding, despite the LGA s generally higher elevation.
While in sectoral Vulnerability, critical infrastructure including markets, schools, irrigation systems, and healthcare facilities remains highly exposed.
However, current coping capacities are contained by aging flood protection structures and last-mile gaps in emergency response access.
The event was organized for all stakeholders, including,Local Emergency Management Committee LEMC, community leaders, government officials such as SEMA and residents from the affected communities.
Similarly, a project close-out lessons learned workshop was also held the following day at the Royal Hotel Conference Hall in Dutse by the same Nigerian Red Cross Society.
The event was organized for all stakeholders, including, Local Emergency Management Committee LEMC, community leaders, government officials such as SEMA and residents from the affected communities.
The stakeholders in attendance at Dutse Royal Hotel were Dr Omar Babale Adam, Jigawa state brauch Secretary Nigeria Red Cross Society, Abdulrahman Bulan HOD Community Auyo local government area.
Others include Garba Alhaji Tukur HOD Community Hadejia,
Abubakar Kawu Abdullahi HOD Social and Community Development Miga local government area. Each of these guests gave meaningful views and opinions that will end flooding.
