Ramatu Garba, Kano
The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have worked out flood mitigation strategy to avert the disaster.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) predicted flooding in many states including Kano this rainy season.
The Executive Secretary of the agency, Alhaji Isyaku Kubarachi, said this during a Simulation Exercise and stakeholders’ meeting, on Wednesday in Kano.
He said flood mitigation activities would be implemented in partnership with UNICEF, NEMA, Kano State Ministry of Water Resources and Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority.
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Kubarachi said the exercise was designed to sensitise communities on preventive measures to forestall the disaster.
“In the event of unforeseen problem from Tiga dam, people should be aware and sensitised against unexpected happenings.
“Why we put emphasis on Tiga dam is because it is number one in terms of volume of water it reserves,’’ he said, adding that the state was ready to tackle flooding, especially the percentage of the risk by 50 to 60 per cent.
He recalled that Kano witnessed the worst flood disaster in 2022, which destroyed properties and slowdown the economy of the state.
The Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, NEMA, Dr Nura Abdullahi, described preparedness as very important in disaster prevention and management.
“God forbid, if today there is an issue with Tiga dam, the whole of Kano and Jigawa will be submerged in at least 60 centimeters because of the quantum of water reserves in the dam,” he said.
Abdullahi said that NiMET predicted flood in 14 out of the 44 local government areas of the state.
He listed the areas to include Rimin Gado; Tofa, Kabo, Madobi, Garun Malam, Bebeji, Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Warawa, Wudil, Sumaila, Ajingi, Kura and Dala.
Also speaking, Mr Nasir El-Mansur, the Deputy Director, Engineering, Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, said the water spillage would be mild following massive draw down of Tiga dam in 2024.
“We are hoping that Tiga dam will be able to contain more than three metres draw down, because more people are going for irrigation and we have to released more water,” he said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Red Cross, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), DSS, State and Federal Fire Services, among others.