Damage caused by floods to infrastructure, including roads, irrigation, and river infrastructure, as well as WASH and electricity infrastructure, is worth around $1.23 billion, according to the Post Disaster Assessment Report on the 2022 Flooding by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development. Photo: Radio Nigeria Archive
The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) has raised the alarm over an impending flood in seven Local Government Areas of the State.
KADSEMA called on residents in the flood-prone areas, which include Kaduna North and South, Jema’a, Sanga, Igabi, Kagarko, and Jaba LGAs, to immediately evacuate to a safer place
Executive Secretary Usman Mazadu on Wednesday advised against dumping refuse in waterways and drainages to curtail flooding.
He urged residents to regularly clean out the gutters and drainages in their communities, which, he stated, can reduce blockage of water channels and thus minimise flooding.
Flooding has been a major problem facing most Local Government Areas across the country.
The immediate past Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, had warned in February this year that 178 Local Government Areas were at risk of flooding.
According to Mr Adamu, 32 states fall under highly probable Flood areas.
More worrisome is the Post Disaster Assessment report on the 2022 Flooding in Nigeria released by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, which states that all 36 states of the federation were affected by flooding.
The report estimated that the total direct economic damages, based on currently reported statistics as of November 25, were in the range of $3.79bn to $9.12bn with the best (median) estimate at $6.68bn.
It is pertinent for residents of the affected areas to ensure constant clearing of drainages, stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
Federal and State Governments must ensure that they provide refuse dumps at strategic locations for residents and also provide alternative shelter for those that are in flood prone areas to evacuate to.
Writing by Oluwaseyi Ajibade; Editing by Adeniyi Bakare