The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has met with stakeholders in a move to address the issues of flooding across communities in the state.
This was even at a simulation exercise and debriefing meeting involving relevant stakeholders and communities at risk facilitated by the United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF).
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Speaking the Executive Secretary, SEMA, Isyaku Abdullahi Kubarachi said the meeting us aimed at fielding out ways and sensitising the residents in the communities on how to take care of themselves before they received any help.
“Eventually, if we have any problem from precisely Tiga Dam, people should be aware and be sensitised on how to take care of themselves before arrival of any help from any organisation.
“Why we put emphasis on Tiga Dam is because it is number one in terms of volume of water it reserves.
“The percentage of risk is high, at least 50-60 percent across 14 local government areas. In 2022, Kano State witnesses the worse flood disaster in the history of Kano. We lost a lot in all the sectors of our economy.”
Also speaking, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Kano territorial office coordinator, Dr Nura Abdullahi said preparedness is very important in disaster management and the agency is ever ready to manage the risk before it happens and sensitise vulnerable people.
“Our response agencies are up to date and on alert in case of any emergency.
“God forbid if today there is an issue with Tiga Dam, the whole Kano and Jigawa will be submerged in at least 60 centimetres because of the quantum of water stored down in the Dam.”
On his part, the Deputy Director in charge of engineering, Engr Nasir El-Mansur expressed optimism that the water spillage will be milder this year as the Tiga Dam has witnessed massive draw down.
“We are hoping that Tiga Dam will be able to contain the water because we have more than three metres draw down. We have never never experienced five metres draw down because of the issue of hydro power and the issue of irrigation, because more people are going for irrigation and we have to release more water.”
 in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) have worked out flood){kind=link}