By Abdulqadir Muhammad Alhaji
The Bauchi State Government has intensified flood preparedness efforts after the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) identified the state as having the highest number of flood-vulnerable locations in the country.
Speaking on Tuesday at a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on the 2026 Flood Preparedness and Response organised by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in Bauchi, the Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Danlami Kawule, urged residents to avoid activities that increase flood risks.
He warned against building on waterways and dumping refuse into drainage channels, saying such practices obstruct the natural flow of water and heighten the likelihood of flooding.
“The key to protecting people from floods is awareness,” Kawule said, explaining that traditional rulers, religious leaders and community representatives were invited to help spread flood prevention messages across their communities.
He added that government agencies responsible for enforcing environmental regulations would sanction anyone found violating the law.
Earlier, the Bauchi State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr Ibrahim Kabir, said Governor Bala Mohammed directed the immediate activation of flood response measures following the release of NIHSA’s National Flood Advisory on July 22, 2026.
Kabir said the advisory, identified as Alert No. NFA-2026-200, projected that 1,841 communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets in Bauchi State are vulnerable to flooding, placing the state ahead of Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue in terms of exposure.
He said the state responded by expanding public sensitisation campaigns to include traditional institutions, religious organisations and community-based groups to strengthen grassroots preparedness.
“We acted immediately because even a few minutes can make a significant difference during emergencies,” Kabir said.
According to him, participants at the stakeholders’ meeting called for similar awareness campaigns to be extended to schools, markets, churches and other public places across the state.
Kabir also disclosed that Governor Bala Mohammed had approved physical intervention projects in flood-prone communities as part of efforts to reduce the impact of flooding.
He said ACReSAL would continue supporting relevant agencies, including the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency, to strengthen disaster preparedness and emergency response.
He added that closer collaboration among government institutions and community stakeholders would improve flood mitigation efforts and help protect lives and property across the state.
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