Victoria Mbangwa
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has launched a grassroots-focused early warning campaign in Doka, Tofa Local Government Area of Kano State, aimed at preventing the recurrence of deadly floods that have previously claimed lives and destroyed livelihoods.
The initiative, which aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, is part of a broader effort to mitigate the anticipated impacts of the 2025 rainy season.
Speaking during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement themed “Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response,” NEMA’s Director General, Zubaida Umar—represented by the agency’s Kano Territorial Coordinator, Dr. Nuradeen Abdullahi—stressed the urgent need for proactive disaster risk reduction.
“In the recent past, lives have been lost and infrastructure worth billions of naira destroyed due to floods,” Dr. Abdullahi said. “NEMA has produced vulnerability maps for all at-risk communities to help guide governments in developing effective mitigation strategies.”
The campaign, under the theme “Disaster Resilience Starts with the People,” introduces targeted solutions including community-based evacuation plans, training for local emergency responders, rainwater harvesting, and the desilting of blocked waterways.
NEMA is also calling for widespread community engagement, urging traditional rulers, religious leaders, women’s groups, youth associations, and schools to help disseminate early warning messages and promote a culture of preparedness.
Supporting the initiative, Secretary to the Kano State Government, Faruk Ibrahim, emphasized the importance of empowering local emergency units. “We must support our local emergency management communities with adequate training, funding, and equipment to bring disaster risk management closer to the people,” he said.
Ibrahim also cited recent meteorological predictions indicating that while Kano Central may experience moderate flooding, Kano North faces the threat of severe drought—further highlighting the need for local preparedness.
The Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Isyaku Kubarachi, praised the collaborative effort. He disclosed that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has already directed the clearing of drainages in Kano metropolis, with local government chairmen expected to replicate the effort in their jurisdictions.
“Effective preparedness saves lives, livelihoods, money, and property,” Kubarachi said. “This underscores the importance of joint and collaborative efforts in disaster risk management.”
With this campaign, NEMA is signaling a strategic shift from reactive emergency response to proactive, community-led resilience building—ensuring that local populations are not just victims of disasters but active participants in their prevention.
