The Jigawa State Government says it has earmarked N4.2 billion to fast-track flood mitigation and emergency response efforts across the state.
Dr. Abdullahi Sa’id, Chairman of the Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), disclosed this on Wednesday during a town hall meeting held in Ringim, the headquarters of Ringim Local Government Area.
The meeting was organized by the Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) and the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Jigawa is one of the states predicted to experience flooding during the 2025 rainy season, according to the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s (NiMet) Seasonal Climate Predictions (SCP).
Sa’id said the funds were appropriated to mitigate the risks and enhance emergency preparedness across 21 local government areas identified as flood-prone.
“The state government, under SEMA, has set aside N4 billion, and each of the 27 LGAs contributed N11 million last month to support prevention and emergency response efforts based on NiMet’s disaster predictions,” he said.
He added that the government had also established Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), each chaired by the Vice Chairman of the respective local government council, to coordinate flood preparedness and emergency response.
Each committee, comprising 20 members, has been tasked with coordinating flood mitigation through public sensitization and desilting of water channels in communities to improve water flow during heavy rainfall.
Mr. Adamu Sabo, Managing Director of JISEPA, noted that the agency had launched campaigns on flood preparedness, environmental sanitation, and stakeholder engagement to encourage community involvement in mitigation efforts.
Sabo described the initiative as a “life- and property-saving effort,” urging residents to desist from activities that could contribute to flooding.
He said the state government was also dredging rivers to ease water flow in riverine areas, particularly in anticipation of potential overflow from the Tiga, Bagauda, and Challawa dams in neighboring Kano State.
“We are using this platform to appeal to residents to support the government’s efforts to reduce or prevent the impact of potential flooding. Prevention is better than cure,” he said.
Also speaking, Hannafi Yakubu, Executive Secretary of SEMA, cautioned against indiscriminate dumping of waste into waterways, warning that such acts significantly increase flood risk.
The Emir of Ringim, Sayyadi Mahmud, commended the initiative, saying it would promote early intervention and community preparedness. He was represented by Nasiru Isa-Mahmud.
The meeting was attended by representatives from federal and state fire services, security agencies, humanitarian organizations, and other stakeholders.
