By Mohammed Tijjani
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kaduna State command, has placed Divisional Officers and residents on red alert over dangers of floods in the state.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSC Habeeb Badamasi, gave the alert in a statement on Tuesday in Kaduna.
Badamasi said the alert followed prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), on possible flooding, especially in areas considered as most vulnerable, and the need to prevent and manage disasters associated with flooding.
According to him, the NSCDC has placed its personnel on Disaster Management Unit, Divisions and residents on red alert as part of responsibilities bestowed on the Corps to manage disasters.
He said the state Commandant, Mr Idris Adah, stated this in an interaction with affected officers and the need to sensitise residents of the affected areas to how to mitigate and respond to the natural disaster.
Badamasi said the warning had become imperative, considering the frequency and high degree of rains in August which would last till end of September and even part of October.
“The situation demands urgent and absolute attention to collectively take sensitiisation to the door-steps of susceptible population by working in synergy with relevant stakeholders.
“The stakeholders include National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) at the federal and state levels.”
He said the commandant specifically called on Disaster Management Unit, Divisional Officers in charge of Kaduna-North, Kaduna-South, Chikun and Jema’a to ensure swift and proactive action to mitigate the situation.
“The commandant called on residents of Kabala Costain, Kabala Doki and Kigo Road in Kaduna-North, Bashama Road in Tudun-Wada in Kaduna-South as well as communities around the river bank which include Nasarawa and Keke B.
Other areas include Tudun Mashigi, kurmi and Doka Mai Jema’a in Chikun Local Government Area to adhere to the warning by taking precautionary measures and relocate from the high vulnerable locations.
The commandant said they should avoid a reoccurrence of the preventable disasters in the past where people lost their lives and valuable property worth millions of Naira were destroyed.
“Leaving those places should not be seen as optional but mandatory to avoid regrets,” the Commandant warned.
He called on residents of the state to report flood related issues and other incidences that posed threats to the wellbeing of the people to NSCDC and other security agencies for prompt attention.
He said the command reassured the public of the its readiness for swift response to distress situations as directed by the Commandant General, Dr Ahmed Audi.(NAN).
