The Jigawa State Government has deployed 20 speed boats to strengthen evacuation and emergency rescue operations in communities vulnerable to flooding across the state.
Speaking in Dutse, the Special Adviser to Governor Umar Namadi on Environment, Mr Hamza Muhammad, said the initiative was aimed at ensuring quick evacuation of residents trapped during flood incidents.
Muhammad, who also serves as Co-Chair of the Technical Committee on Flood Mitigation under the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, explained that the state adopted proactive strategies to minimise the impact of anticipated flooding.
According to him, the measures were taken in response to seasonal climate forecasts issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.
“We are taking the warnings seriously because the safety of lives and property remains a priority for the government,” he said.
Muhammad disclosed that the state government directed the technical committee on flooding to intensify preventive actions in flood-prone areas, adding that preparations had been ongoing since February.
He added that the government had also embarked on erosion control programmes involving tree planting, land reclamation, construction of shelter belts, watershed management, and desilting of waterways to reduce the risk of rivers overflowing.
The committee, he said, is collaborating with relevant agencies and organisations, including emergency management authorities, UNICEF, and the Red Cross, to develop contingency plans aimed at reducing the impact of flooding.
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Hannafi Yakubu, revealed that awareness campaigns had already been carried out to educate residents on flood risks and safety precautions.
He stated that flood forecasts for 2026 identified 11 local government areas likely to be affected, including Ringim, Taura, Jahun, Miga, Malam Madori, Kaugama, Kafin Hausa, Auyo, Hadejia, Guri, and Kiri Kasamma.
Yakubu explained that speed boats would be used for rescue operations in deep-water areas, while canoes would serve communities with shallower waters.
He further disclosed that food supplies and other emergency relief materials had been procured to support displaced persons in the event of flooding.
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State Government has launched a N29 billion erosion and flood control project designed to tackle environmental degradation and improve public safety.
Governor Bala Mohammed, while inaugurating the initiative, said the project would restore degraded land, protect vulnerable communities, and support economic activities such as irrigation farming.
He explained that the intervention would rehabilitate thousands of hectares of damaged land and improve water management systems across the state.
According to the governor, erosion control works would be carried out in areas including Shagbungara, Unguwar Jidadi, Abubakar Tatari Ali Housing Estate, and Gwallagan Mayaka within Bauchi metropolis, while flood management projects would cover downstream communities.
Mohammed stressed that poor drainage systems and unchecked erosion had contributed to public health concerns, including malaria and other water-related diseases caused by stagnant water.
He described the initiative as not only an engineering solution but also a public health and social protection intervention capable of improving livelihoods and community well-being.
The governor added that restoring degraded areas would improve security, increase accessibility, and boost dry-season farming and small-scale businesses capable of strengthening food security and household incomes.
Similarly, the Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency said plans had been concluded to strengthen the capacity of local emergency committees in 20 local government areas to improve disaster preparedness and response.
Officials also disclosed that farming communities had been sensitised on ways to reduce flood damage to farmlands, while residents were advised to relocate to safer locations to avoid loss of lives and property.
In Gombe State, the government said it had completed more than 200 erosion control projects under its Gombe Goes Green initiative.
Dr Sani Jauri, Director of Environment in the state Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Forest Resources, stated that the interventions focused on reclaiming degraded areas and strengthening environmental sustainability.
Jauri, who coordinates the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project, said the programme had received support from the World Bank since 2016.
He noted that the administration of Governor Inuwa Yahaya revitalised the programme through a N500 million counterpart contribution, enabling the implementation of several major projects across the state.
According to him, one of the major erosion control projects covered about 7.9 kilometres along the Goshi axis, significantly reducing environmental damage and improving living conditions for affected communities.
He added that another major intervention involved a 22-kilometre flood and erosion control corridor extending to Liji Hill and benefiting more than nine communities.
Jauri called for increased investment in green infrastructure, warning that environmental degradation and reduced vegetation cover had weakened the land’s natural ability to absorb rainfall, thereby increasing flooding and erosion risks.
He emphasised the importance of tree planting, land restoration, and sustainable environmental practices in building resilience against climate-related disasters.
The Executive Secretary of the Gombe State Emergency Management Agency, Haruna Abdullahi, also disclosed that local divers had been engaged to support rescue operations during emergencies.
He, however, expressed concern that some residents of Shadamansur community in Funakaye Local Government Area had ignored relocation warnings issued by the government despite the risk of flooding.
Authorities in Gombe identified Funakaye, Shongom, Yamaltu/Deba, Dukku, and Kwami local government areas as locations likely to experience flooding during the rainy season.