As the rainy season approaches, the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) has completed the validation of hazard data identified across nine local government areas to strengthen disaster preparedness efforts.
The exercise, conducted in collaboration with Christian Aid, followed a 10-day field assessment aimed at verifying community reports, correcting inconsistencies, and identifying high-risk locations requiring urgent attention.
The outcome of the validation process has also been approved for inclusion in the state’s 2026 Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.
The Executive Secretary of KADSEMA, Dr. Usman Mazadu, emphasised the importance of reliable data in managing disasters effectively, noting that accurate information is essential for planning and response.
He disclosed that the exercise uncovered 178 hazard points across the affected LGAs, based on contributions from field enumerators and over 400 community information coordinators.
Mazadu further stated that the state government has reinforced its disaster management framework through the adoption of policies and tools aimed at improving coordination and emergency response.
He highlighted ongoing preventive measures in flood-prone areas, including the deployment of early warning systems, public awareness campaigns, and the establishment of designated safe centres.
According to him, continuous efforts such as desilting drainage channels, dredging waterways, and sensitisation programmes have helped reduce the impact of flooding in recent years.
Also speaking, Tabat Baba, Programme Officer for Disaster Risk Reduction at Christian Aid Nigeria, said the initiative assessed both vulnerabilities and local capacities to improve community readiness ahead of the flood season.
She explained that the effort is designed to help communities prepare using climate forecasts and flood outlooks for 2026, while also addressing risks linked to conflict and insecurity.
Participants from the involved local government areas described the initiative as timely and pledged to extend awareness and preparedness strategies to their respective communities.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening resilience and ensuring that communities are better equipped to respond to potential flooding and related hazards.