The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has taken its flood awareness campaign to worship centres in Kaduna State to sensitise residents on ways to prevent and mitigate the impact of flooding.
The North-West Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Halima Sulaiman, disclosed this in an interview in Kaduna on Tuesday.
Sulaiman said the exercise was part of the agency’s nationwide disaster risk reduction strategy and aimed at promoting preparedness ahead of the peak of the 2026 rainy season.
She said NEMA officials led by the Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, Ikramat Umar, sensitised worshippers on the five phases of disaster management: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
She added that worshippers were briefed on the 2026 seasonal climate prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the annual flood outlook of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which indicated possible flooding in parts of Kaduna.
Sulaiman identified indiscriminate waste disposal, blocked drainage systems, construction on natural waterways and buildings in flood-prone areas as major causes of flooding.
She urged residents to dispose of waste properly, clear drainage channels and waterways regularly, heed early warnings and evacuate flood-prone areas when directed by emergency authorities.
The zonal coordinator said NEMA had provided some telephones to facilitate prompt response to distress calls and urged residents to use them during emergencies.
She said the agency would continue to collaborate with religious institutions, community leaders and other stakeholders to strengthen disaster preparedness and build resilient communities.
The campaign covered several worship centres in Kaduna metropolis, including First Nasara Baptist Church, Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), Grace Baptist Church, Sultan Bello Central Mosque and Abba 33 Mosque.
