Flood Risk Puts 3.7 Million Kano Residents, 362 Communities in Peril – NEMA

• Heavy rainfall in Jigawa State has led to six children’s deaths and 22 fatalities statewide, exacerbating ongoing flooding disasters in Nigeria
• The National Emergency Management Agency reports over 227,000 people affected by flooding, with significant damage to homes and farmland across 27 states

Heavy rainfall in Kirikasamma Local Government Area of Jigawa State has resulted in the tragic deaths of six children and left several others injured, marking a grim continuation of flooding disasters in the region. In the past week alone, 22 people have lost their lives due to flooding across the state.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported that 227,494 people across Nigeria have been affected by flooding, ravaging 27 states. The floods have damaged 32,837 houses and destroyed 16,488 hectares of farmland.

Alhaji Musa Muhammad, the Information Officer for Malam Madori and Kirikasamma local government areas, confirmed that four children in Gamji Village, Turabu Ward, died when their home collapsed during the night. The children were all from the same family, belonging to a resident named Na Kayuwa Gamji. Two other residents of Fandin Village also lost their lives after their homes collapsed due to relentless rainfall.

In addition to the fatalities, many rice farmlands in the area have been submerged, causing significant agricultural damage. One woman in Matarar Gamji Village suffered a leg fracture due to the flooding.

NEMA has begun responding to flood incidents by deploying relief items and conducting impact assessments in collaboration with state emergency management agencies (SEMAs) to provide timely support to affected communities. The agency’s Director General, Zubaida Umar, reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to effective disaster management and urged farmers not to panic over the temporary dry spell in some states, assuring them that it would soon pass.

NEMA also warned that over 3.7 million residents and 362 communities across 14 local government areas in Kano State are at high risk of flooding. This warning comes after a week of continuous heavy rainfall in Kano, which has disrupted daily life for many residents. The at-risk local governments include Rimin Gado, Tofa, Kabo, Madobi, Garun Malam, Bebeji, Rano, Dawakin Kudu, Warawa, Wudil, Sumaila, Ajingi, Kura, and Dala.

During a one-day stakeholder workshop on Solid Waste Management and Flood Preparedness, “Enhancing Community Resilience through Effective Solid Waste Management and Proactive Flood Preparedness,” NEMA Territorial Coordinator Dr. Nuraddeen Abdullahi emphasized the need for proactive measures to protect vulnerable communities.

Hajiya Amina Abdullahi, Commissioner of the Ministry of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation in Kano State, reiterated Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf’s commitment to safeguarding citizens from disasters. She praised NEMA and SEMA for organizing the workshop, which aimed to enhance flood preparedness and solid waste management in the state.