In a strategic move to scale up community resilience, KADSEMA has partnered with development stakeholders and religious leaders to enhance the spread of early flood warnings in at-risk localities.
The initiative was formally announced during a one-day workshop held on Thursday in Kaduna, themed “Leveraging Faith Institutions in Mitigating the Impact of Flooding and Other Disasters.”
Speaking at the event, Dr. Usman Mazadu, Executive Secretary of KADSEMA, said the engagement aligns with recent flood projections issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which identified Kaduna as one of the states at elevated risk of flooding in 2025.
“The objective of this workshop is to reorient faith leaders on their vital role in disaster risk reduction,” Mazadu stated. “Disaster management is not solely the responsibility of government; it is a shared obligation that requires active participation from religious and community stakeholders.”
The workshop convened leaders from both Christian and Islamic faiths, alongside officials representing all 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.
Mazadu highlighted that the state government, under the directive of Governor Uba Sani, has taken several proactive measures since 2023 to mitigate flooding. These efforts include extensive public sensitisation campaigns, clearing of drainage systems, and the enforcement of regulations against illegal structures obstructing waterways.
“This marks our 16th sensitisation campaign this year,” Mazadu noted. “Preparedness must be prioritised—we cannot afford to wait for disasters before taking action.”
He also commended partner organisations such as Christian Aid, UNICEF, and the United Nations for their continued support in enhancing the state’s emergency response capabilities.
Mr. Tabat Baba, Programme Officer at Christian Aid Nigeria, also addressed participants, noting that the workshop was informed by updated flood alerts affecting 13 high-risk local government areas in Kaduna.
“We are working collaboratively with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), and local emergency committees to ensure that early warning messages are effectively communicated to the grassroots,” Baba explained.
He added that the training aimed to produce actionable strategies for strengthening early warning systems, particularly in vulnerable communities. These plans include active involvement of local government vice-chairmen and emergency committees to facilitate timely information flow.
The initiative, supported by the European Union Humanitarian Aid, forms part of a broader regional effort to improve emergency preparedness across Nigeria’s Northwest zone.
“Our goal is to establish strong, two-way communication between communities and relevant national agencies,” Baba said.
Dr. Mazadu concluded by emphasizing that early warning systems must be timely, accurate, and rooted in community engagement to be effective.