NiMet Flood Prediction: Jigawa Sets Aside N4.297Bn For Emergency Response
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
Jigawa State Government and the 27 local councils in the state have set aside N4.297 billion for prevention measures and emergency response against flooding this year.
The Secretary of the Jigawa State Local Governments Vice Chairmen Association of Nigeria, Dr. Abdullahi Sa’ad made this known during a stakeholders townhall meeting on flood preparedness in Ringim.
“Following the prediction of flood disaster in some states and local government areas in Nigeria, with almost 21 local government areas in the state predicted to be affected, the Jigawa State government through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has set aside the total sum of N4 billion.
“Each of the 27 local government councils made a contribution of N11 million for prevention and emergency response against the disaster predicted by NiMet”.
He said Local Government Emergency Management Committees under the office of the vice chairmen of the councils have been established to ensure affectivd prevention and response to all forms of disasters in the local areas.
Dr Abdullahi Sa’ad added that a 20-man committee had been set up in all the local government areas to coordinate prevention measures through sensitization and public enlightenment, and clearing drainages and water ways.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA), Mr Adamu Sabo said they are collaborating with SEMA to mobilise preventive actions and reduce the degree of effects when the disaster happens.
“These exercises in more than prevention efforts, but a life saving exercise, because when it happens, God forbid, nobody knows the number of lives to be lost and properties.
“Government is doing its side of dredging rivers and water ways to give smooth flow and passage to the water during the rainy season and when water is released from dams.
“It is everyone’s responsibility to give their contributions to preventing and reducing the effect of the disaster. Your contributions now is to help the government in extending this message to all that are not here. Also to ensure the clearing of the drainages and water ways in your houses and areas through self help or at the individual level,” he added.
The Managing Director called on the general public to support the government efforts in mitigating the effects before its happened, “prevention is better than cure”.
In their contributions, some of the participants at the meeting called for the desilting of River Hadejia which has been blocked by sand and typha grass.
“The best and lasting solution is for the government at the centre or the state, or for them to jointly desilt River Hadejia that crosses about 13 local government areas in the state and causing most of the flooding experienced in the state every year,” they said.
