ibironkeeniola 
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a warning against flooding in 20 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kano State, following repeated rainfall this year.
The flooding would affect key sectors like agriculture and water resources, the agency added.
The NEMA Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, Sanusi Ado stated this during a one day stakeholders’ meeting on a flood awareness campaign and implication of 2020 seasonal rainfall prediction held on Wednesday in Kano.
The prediction, he said, was by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in its annual flood outlook for 2020.
According to him, the 20 LGAs predicted to be affected include; Tarauni, Garun Malam, Rimin Gado, Gaya, Gezawa, Gwale, Shanono, Gabasawa, Gwarzo, Ungoggo, Warawa, Dawakin Kudu, Dambatta, Bebeji, Kano, Wudil, Kura, Nasarawa, Kano Municipal, and Kumbotso Local Government Areas.
“According to Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), such flood can threaten with high implications the Agriculture, water resources, health, transport, and infrastructure sectors according to the NIMET 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction SRP.
“Recalling that, in 2012, unprecedented flooding led to the displacement of thousands of people, death, and loss of millions of naira.
“Therefore, NEMA Kano Territorial Office flood intervention alone, from 2018 to 2020 have covered about 41 flood assessments with high magnitude and several relief interventions in various areas of Kano and Jigawa States respectively,” he said.
Ado, therefore, called for stringent measures to curb indiscriminate waste disposal and subsequently, flooding in areas of the state.
He alluded to unfortunate incidents that resulted from blockage of drainages and waterways, hinting at plans to visit the flood-prone areas.
He, therefore, reiterated the call to relevant authorities, to put better waste management measures in place.
“In the light of the above, all hands must, therefore, be on deck to ensure that we prepare well to mitigate the impact of the predicted 2020 flooding, even in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.
“Therefore, Nigerians are also enjoined to ensure that drainages are well cleared while taking other precautionary measures,” Ado said.
SOURCE: AGRONIGERIA