Crimes

SEMA: Flood kills 3, destroys 2,250 houses in Kano

The Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Saleh Jili, has said no fewer than three persons were killed while 2,250 houses were destroyed by flooding and windstorm in the month of June in five Local Government Areas of the state.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had predicted that there would be flooding in 32 states of the federation during the rainy season.

According to Jili who attributed the incident to the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways and drains, said the affected Local Government Areas are Rano, Kibiya, Doguwa, Danbatta and Kiru.

He, however, urged the residents of the state to desist from such bad practice to avert a recurrence of such disaster, just as he pledged the agency’s preparedness to respond to emergency situations and carry the people along in the process.

“On June 9, the Agency organised a stakeholders conference to brainstorm on disaster risk reduction and disaster management.

“We sensitised religious leaders and heads of communities in the five emirates on how to manage heavy rainfall that was predicted by NiMet.

“We also used the media, markets and other gatherings to sensitise the residents on the need to ensure easy flow of water in their places,” he said.

Jili added that Kano State has commenced planning ahead of the anticipated 2022 rainy season in many parts of the state.

He said the state has started stockpiling relief materials in response to the NIMET’s prediction about possibility of more flooding.

According to Jili, Kano SEMA is on alert in case of any emergency situation, the state also designated places to serve as temporary shelter for those to be displaced by the anticipated disasters.

On his part, the Territorial Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency in Kano, Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, assured that the agency was prepared to respond to any situation, adding that there were enough relief materials in stock.

He stated that although there were many factors responsible, blockage of water ways by residents was a major factor, hence the need for change of attitude.

Also speaking, the Kano State Commissioner for Environment, Kabiru Getso, said the state government has been engaging in evacuation of refuse as part of its ‘Keep Kano Clean’ campaign.

“So far, more than 70,000 linear meters of drains have been de-silted and more than 1,600 strips of silted materials have been evacuated from drains,” he revealed.

Getso added that the state government has submitted the ‘State Pollution Control Bill’ to the Kano State House of Assembly, saying the bill has passed second reading.

“If passed, the state will have laws criminalising environmental offences such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse and other forms of environmental pollution,” the commissioner said.

The Star