Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, has announced that nine local government areas in Bauchi State face a high risk of flooding this year.
She therefore urged the state government to implement early mitigation measures to address the predicted 2024 flood disaster.
Speaking during a sensitization program on 2024 flood early warning strategies in Bauchi, Umar stressed the necessity of early action to safeguard lives and livelihoods during the rainy season.
She warned that Bauchi has a history of severe flood impacts, with several local government areas still at risk.
The high and moderate flood risk areas identified include Toro, Itas Gadau, Bauchi, Jama’are, Shira, Zaki, Ganjuwa, Warji, and Katagum.
Represented by Garba Mohammed, NEMA’s Director of Internal Audit, Umar outlined the agency’s mandate to coordinate emergency preparedness, mitigation, and response activities across Nigeria.
Umar also cited predictions from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which have identified high flood risk areas in various states and local government areas from April to November.
She underscored the importance of the Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) and the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) for 2024, provided by NiMet and NIHSA.