Experts Blame Blocked Drainages For Floods In Bauchi

Experts have attributed floods in Bauchi State to blocked drainages and the prevalence of illegal structures.

To address the anomaly, the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project has convened a stakeholders’ engagement to strengthen preparedness and response to the anticipated 2026 flooding in Bauchi State.

The meeting held in Bauchi, followed a prediction by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), which listed Bauchi among the 17 states likely to experience flooding this year.

According to the forecast, about 1,841 communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets across nearly 20 local government areas are at risk.

Organised by the Bauchi State ACReSAL Project through the Ministry of Housing and Environment, the forum brought together traditional and religious leaders, heads of government agencies, media practitioners and representatives of affected local government councils to enhance collaboration and improve emergency preparedness.

Speaking, the state Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Hon. Danlami Ahmad Kawule, said the Bauchi state government has continued to implement policies and programmes aimed at protecting the environment and reducing flood risks.

He identified the state’s tree-planting campaign as a key environmental restoration initiative, noting that afforestation remains one of the most effective ways of combating land degradation, protecting ecosystems and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Kawule also disclosed that the government is constructing major drainage channels across Bauchi metropolis to improve stormwater flow and minimise flooding. He described the project as one of the largest drainage interventions in the state’s history and expressed optimism that it would significantly reduce flood incidents.

According to him, the government has also designated areas for dry-season farming to improve food production, strengthen livelihoods and build communities’ resilience against climate change.

Earlier, the State Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Dr Ibrahim Kabir, said the engagement brought together seven key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to develop practical strategies for mitigating the anticipated flooding.

He explained that following early warning alerts issued by relevant agencies, Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed directed the project to immediately engage critical stakeholders to safeguard lives and property.

Kabir said the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and other relevant agencies have forecast flooding in several communities across the state in August, warning that schools, health facilities, particularly primary healthcare centres, and major markets could be affected if preventive measures are not taken.

He added that the engagement provided an opportunity for government agencies, development partners, community leaders, religious leaders and the media to coordinate responses and clearly define their responsibilities.

Kabir stressed that the media have a vital role in disseminating accurate information on flood preparedness, while religious and traditional leaders should use their platforms to educate residents on environmental protection and disaster preparedness.

He explained that the engagement featured two technical sessions focusing on the causes and prevention of flooding, as well as the role of the media in public awareness before, during and after the flood season.

In his goodwill message, a representative of the Bauchi State Ministry of Agriculture, Titus Aliyu, commended ACReSAL for organising the programme and emphasised the need for sustained collaboration among government agencies and development partners to protect farmers and agricultural livelihoods.

During the technical session, the director-general of the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Dr Mahmud Bose, identified blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate refuse disposal and construction on waterways as major causes of flooding.

He said the agency had intensified environmental enforcement and would continue to sanction violators of environmental regulations.

Similarly, the director-general of the Bauchi State Physical Planning Development and Control Board, Dr Ibrahim Muhammad, blamed the increasing construction of buildings on natural waterways and floodplains for worsening flood risks.

He noted that many areas previously serving as river channels and rice fields had been converted into residential settlements, increasing the vulnerability of such communities.

The executive secretary of the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Adamu Nayola, outlined the agency’s emergency response mechanisms, saying SEMA works closely with relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate disaster response.

Also contributing, the District Head of Jama’are, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Wabi, urged residents to embrace tree planting as a collective responsibility, describing afforestation as one of the most effective community-based measures for reducing flooding and protecting the environment.
The chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council, Comrade Umar Sa’idu, described the engagement as timely and assured participants that journalists in the state would continue to support public awareness campaigns on environmental protection, disaster preparedness and flood prevention.