The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday engaged communities in Kaduna State to raise awareness and promote early action against the anticipated
By Ezra Musa
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday engaged communities in Kaduna State to raise awareness and promote early action against the anticipated 2025 flood disasters.
The outreach, held under the agency’s national preparedness campaign, was aimed at mobilising local support and preventive measures to reduce the impact of flooding in high-risk areas.
Sulaiman Muhammad, Head of Operations, NEMA Kaduna Office, said the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen grassroots response before, during, and after emergencies.
“The essence of this engagement is to bring disaster awareness to the communities, where floods usually strike first,” he said.
Muhammad explained that warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had identified parts of Kaduna as flood-prone, making early sensitisation critical.
He stressed the need for communities to clear drainages, open waterways, and maintain hygiene to prevent not only flooding but related disease outbreaks.
According to him, early action by residents could help save lives and property before the arrival of government agencies or international responders.
Also speaking, Yahaya Mohammed, Controller, General Safety Awareness and Environmental Support Initiative, urged communities to take ownership of flood prevention efforts.
“When the government builds drainages, the people must clean and maintain them. If disaster occurs, it is the community that suffers first,” he said.
Mohammed called for sustained environmental sanitation, adding that prevention remained the most effective strategy for flood risk reduction.
He commended NEMA, the Kaduna State Government, and development partners for their proactive response to the flood forecast.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some residents of Rafin guza were trained on emergency rescue by Red Cross.(NAN)(nannews.ng)