The Bauchi State Government has initiated steps to address flooding issues in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season.
Hajara Wanka, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, made this announcement on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting focused on sustainable flood disaster management strategies.
Wanka explained that one of the key strategies includes engaging stakeholders, particularly those from areas impacted by floods in 2024.
She noted that the meeting’s theme, “Building Resilience and Collaborative Solutions for Flood-Affected Communities,” is a call to action for all stakeholders to develop strategies that are not only reactive but also proactive and preventive.
She emphasized that the meeting aims to discuss effective flood prevention, mitigation, preparedness, and evacuation methods where necessary.
“This town hall meeting represents a key step in our collective journey toward building resilient communities, mitigating risks, enhancing preparedness, and ensuring effective response and recovery in the face of flood disasters,” she stated.
“Flooding is one of the most recurrent and devastating natural disasters affecting our communities and Bauchi State was the second most hit state in Nigeria after Borno in the year 2024. Many lives were lost, livelihoods destroyed, and significant challenges were posed to our socio-economic development,” Wanka added.
She assured that the engagement was not just about acknowledging the challenges but about finding a path forward that emphasizes sustainability, collaboration, and community-driven solutions.
Additionally, Adamu Neyola, the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency, shared that 16 local government areas were affected by flooding in 2024. He emphasized that the meeting aimed to identify areas not included in earlier assessments and evaluate the depth, density, and severity of the flooding.
“We are also here to hear the depth, density, and severity of flood disasters that happened in those areas as well as the way forward so that we can mitigate, restore, and at least, recover from what we have lost,” Neyola stated.
He further explained that local communities have firsthand knowledge of the causes and impacts of flooding in their areas, and the goal is for them to propose solutions for flood prevention and recovery.
In his remarks, Ibrahim Bashir, the Bauchi State Coordinator of the North-East Development Commission, assured attendees that the commission is committed to addressing any form of disaster impacting the Northeastern region.
