Authorities in Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states have stepped up preparations to tackle flooding, following warnings of heavy rainfall and possible disasters in the North-West.
In Sokoto, the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, said it is working with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, security agencies, Red Cross and others to boost disaster response. Relief materials, including food and building supplies, have been stockpiled.
Mustapha Umar, SEMA’s director of relief and rehabilitation, said no fewer than 1,400 households in Kware Local Government Area have already been affected by floods.
In Zamfara, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Musa Kainuwa said waterways are being cleared to reduce flood risk. He warned residents against dumping refuse in drainages and urged riverine communities to move to safer areas.
The Zamfara Emergency Management Agency, ZEMA, said sensitisation campaigns are ongoing in high-risk communities, recalling that over 4,000 houses were destroyed in last year’s floods in Gummi and Talata Mafara LGAs.
In Kebbi, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Muhammad Hamidu-Jarkuka said proactive measures, including community enlightenment and logistics support, have been put in place, with budgetary allocations made to assist victims.
NEMA’s Sokoto field office also confirmed it has conducted a flood response simulation exercise across the three states to strengthen coordination.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency, NIHSA, had earlier identified Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, and Kwara as among the states at risk of major flooding in 2025.
