The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), in collaboration with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), has organized a one-day stakeholders meeting on 2023 rainy season preparedness and mitigation plan.
The State Executive Secretary, SEMA, Dr Saleh Jili, said in Kano on Thursday that the meeting was aimed to prevent disasters in the upcoming rainy season with high probability of flooding as predicted by experts.
He said the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has predicted that 23 local government areas in Kano state will experience flooding such as probable and highly probable flood risk areas.
The local government areas, according to the forecast, include Ajingi, Rano, Ungogo, Dawakin Kudu, Dala, Kano Municipal, Tudun Wada, Minjibir, Tarauni, Garun Malam, Rimin Gado, Gaya, Gezawa,Gwale, Tofa, Gabasawa, Kabo, Wudil, Kura, Madobi,Kumbotso and Warawa.
“As a result, we decided to take proactive and necessary measures to save lives, prevent human suffering, and protect properties and public infrastructure.
“We have written to the state government for a request of N5 million monthly financial standing order to enable us stock pile relief materials for rapid emergency response,” Jili said.
He commended UNICEF for supporting the programme.
In his remarks, UNICEF’s Chief of Kano Field Office, Mr Rahama Farah, said the engagement was to ensure preparedness for any kind of disaster that might occur in the near future, such as floods and epidemics like cholera, among others.
“We have to have a robust plan, coordination on early warning to save lives and properties.”
He said UNICEF will continue to partner with SEMA Kano, Katsina and Jigawa state to have the necessary capability and structure resources to develop effective response.
“UNICEF in 2022 spent US$ 22 million in Kano, Katsina and Jigawa for different developmental programmes.
“From 2023 to 2027, UNICEF will provide a technical and financial support to state governments on disaster preparedness and response in terms of emergency and ensure our regular education, nutrition and child protection programme to be supported,” Farah said.
On his part, the Director General, NEMA, Mr Mustapha Habib, said the engagement is apt, as increasing danger of flood and other types of disasters pose to our economic and social development.
Habib, represented by NEMA Coordinator Kano Territorial Office, Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, said the preparedness in disaster risk management will enhance local community participation and community participation.
He said in the 2022 flood disaster, 4.7 million people were affected, out of which 2.4 million people were displaced, while 665 lost their lives.
