The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has projected that eight local government areas in Zamfara State will experience moderate flooding during the 2024 rainy season.
Zubaida Umar, the agency’s director-general, disclosed this during a sensitization program held in Gusau, focusing on the 2024 down-scaling of flood early warning strategies for prompt actions.
Umar identified the eight LGAs as Bugundu, Gummi, Gusau, Bakura, Maradun, Talata Mafara, Shinkafi, and Zurmi.
She urged Nigerians to collaborate in protecting communities at risk, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and ensuring uninterrupted socio-economic activities from flood-related disruptions.
According to the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) 2024 Annual Flood Outlook, 31 states, comprising 148 local government areas, are expected to face high flood risk, while 35 states, including the FCT, with 249 LGAs, fall under moderate flood risk. The remaining 377 LGAs are categorized as low flood risk areas.
Umar, represented by the Director of ICT, Sani Lokoja, emphasized that Zamfara State had suffered significant impacts from floods in previous years, resulting in losses, damages, and fatalities.
Lokoja emphasized the significance of the downscaling and sensitization program of the 2024 early warning strategies, stressing the need for grassroots support to mitigate flood disasters in Zamfara State.
The Zamfara State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aliyu Tsafe, stated that the government had commenced the flood awareness campaign across all fourteen local government areas in the state.
Representing the State Governor, Dauda Lawal, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abubakar Nakwada, urged government officials, traditional and religious leaders, and other stakeholders to actively engage in the sensitization program and utilize the shared strategies to mitigate flood impacts in high-risk areas of the state.
Stakeholders are hopeful that the sensitization and enlightenment program will significantly reduce the impact of floods, safeguard both private and communal livelihoods, and foster socio-economic growth and development within the community.