Nearly 150 towns spread across seventeen LGAs in Jigawa State have been red-tagged by NEMA as being extremely at risk of flooding in the upcoming 2026 monsoon season.
As part of NEMA’s countrywide effort to fortify resilience against natural disasters, the warning was delivered during a stakeholders’ engagement on disaster preparedness that was held in Dutse.
North-West Zonal Director Aliyu Shehu, speaking on behalf of NEMA Director-General Mrs. Zubaida Umar, warned that people located around rivers and other waterways should take extra precautions before heavy rains.
Disaster risk reduction techniques were discussed at an interaction with the theme “Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance for a Resilient Nigeria,” which included emergency management agencies, traditional rulers, community leaders, and others.
If you live in a flood-prone area, NEMA recommends that you move out of low-lying areas if you can help it, keep trash out of drainage channels, and listen carefully to government warnings and weather reports.
Communities were also urged by the organization to become acquainted with evacuation routes and emergency response protocols.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reports that flooding is still one of the worst natural disasters that can happen in Nigeria, leading to many casualties, forced displacements, and property damage (including homes, farms, and public buildings). Reducing disaster-related losses is still heavily dependent on early preparation and public awareness, according to the agency.
Attendees were reassured of the state’s preparedness to respond to any calamity by Hannafi Yakubu, the Executive Secretary of the Jigawa State calamity Management Agency (SEMA). Twenty speedboats, he said, have been sent out to aid with rescue and evacuation efforts in areas that are particularly at risk.
In addition, Yakubu announced that supplies of food and other necessities had been prepared to help those in need in the event of flooding.
To improve water flow and lessen the risk of urban floods, officials of the Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency also noted that drainage desilting and environmental cleanliness works are being intensified across the state.
In order to lessen the impact of the expected floods, meeting attendees stressed the need of better early warning systems, more community awareness, environmental management, and coordinated disaster response.