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| Image: Dr. Haruna Mairiga |
By Salisu K Ismail
Heavy rainfall that caused floods in various towns and villages across 12 Local Government Areas in Jigawa state have killed 16 people, washed away about 2,744 hectares of land and rendered 3,838 people homeless.
NEWSKEEPER reports that, the torrential rain occurred and affected the areas within the past three weeks.
It could be recalled that, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) together with the National Emergency Management (NEMA) has in a year 2024 weather forecast warned the general public on the possibility of occurrence of the flood in about 28 States of the country including Jigawa state.
Speaking to newsmen, Wednesday, in his office, the Executive Secretary, Jigawa State Emergency Dr. Haruna Mairiga stated that, the flood that led to lost of lives has left several households displaced and destroyed a large number of hectares of farmlands across varied locations in the state.
The Executive Secretary said that, "According to the Agency's predictions the flood disaster was expected to happened only at the peak or end of the rainy season but yet, the disaster happened even before reaching the peak of the raining time."
"Our fear is that of what it could be when the rainy season reached its peak or when the Tiga Dam in Kano is released by the Hadejia Jama'are River Basin Development Authority," he cried out .
"The floods has taken us by surprise"
Dr. Mairiga explained that, Although the State Emergency Agency has taken several precaution measures prior to the development among which includes the erection of some embankments to protect communities living near the water ways, consultation with experts and sensitisation exercise yet, the calamity has occurred beyond the expectations.
"The communities affected by this devastating flood in Jigawa State are in dare need of the support of National and international organizations as well as every concerned stakeholders," Dr. Mairiga begs.
However, the ES said that, so far, SEMA has supported the affected victims with some relief materials that comprised foods, insecticide nets, drugs and embarkment items as some of those displaced who lost their houses were temporarily camped in some Primary school buildings in the state.
He mentioned that, the LGs affected by the flood this time in Jigawa State includes Auyo, Birniwa, Buji, Dutse, Garki, Gwaram, Hadejia, Kafin Hausa, Kaugama, Malam Madori, Sule Tankarkar and Taura.
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