The Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has issued a strong warning to residents over the risk of imminent flooding following a heavy downpour that destroyed several houses across the state.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday in Katsina, the executive secretary of the agency, Hajiya Binta Dangani, cautioned residents to prioritise environmental hygiene and public health.
She emphasised that Katsina is among 15 states listed by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) as likely to experience severe rainfall and strong winds this year.
“As predicted by NiMet, Katsina is at high risk of heavy rains and flooding this season,” Hajiya Dangani said. “We are calling on residents to stop dumping refuse in water channels, clean up their surroundings, and vacate buildings constructed on waterways.”
She urged those living in flood-prone areas to relocate temporarily to safer places such as schools and mosques until proper accommodations can be found.
According to her, the state government has already taken proactive steps, including meetings with traditional rulers, local government chairmen, imams, and other community leaders to ensure residents in dangerous zones are relocated.
“Blocked waterways and refuse-filled drainages are major contributors to the recent flooding,” she stated. “We visited several rural areas affected by the downpour and found that communities are partly responsible for the destruction due to poor waste management and illegal structures obstructing water flow.”
Hajiya Dangani also encouraged residents to revive traditional community efforts for environmental sanitation, noting that the long-standing practice has been neglected in recent years.
While confirming that the recent rainfall damaged multiple homes, she said the agency is still conducting assessments to determine the full extent of the destruction.
“We will make our findings public once the damage assessment is complete,” she added.
Residents are urged to heed SEMA’s advice and take preventive measures to avoid further loss of property and lives as the rainy season intensifies.
