Jigawa Gets Strong Flood Alert Amid Heavy Rainfalls

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has warned residents of Jigawa State against practices that could worsen flooding, especially in communities identified as flood-prone during the rainy season.

The warning followed recent alerts by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA) that heavy rainfall could trigger flooding in more than 14,000 communities across 33 states, including Jigawa.

Naija News reports that Jigawa is one of the states that experience flooding almost every year, with many communities recording loss of farm produce, destruction of houses, damage to property and, in some cases, loss of lives.

Against this background, the Jigawa State Directorate of the NOA held an interactive session with journalists on Monday in Dutse, the state capital, as part of its ongoing sensitisation campaign.

Speaking at the event, the NOA State Director, Ahmad Ibrahim, said the agency’s campaign would focus on flood mitigation, emergency preparedness, continuous voter registration and the misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food.

He said, “The campaign covers flood mitigation and emergency preparedness, continuous voter registration, and discouraging the misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food.”

Ibrahim explained that the NOA’s mandate includes sensitising citizens on government policies, programmes and activities, adding that the current campaign had become necessary because of the flood warning contained in the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook.

The NOA director said that although flooding is a natural disaster, its impact is often made worse by human activities in many communities.

He said poor waste disposal, illegal construction and lack of maintenance of drainage systems had continued to expose residents to avoidable risks.

Ibrahim stated, “Flooding is a recurring natural disaster aggravated by climate change and often worsened by human activities such as waste disposal in waterways, poor infrastructure maintenance and illegal construction on floodplains.”

He added that several communities in Jigawa remained vulnerable because of poor environmental habits.

He said, “Poor drainage systems, indiscriminate dumping of waste in drainages, construction of buildings on waterways, as well as excessive deforestation, contribute significantly to the recurring incidences of flooding.”

According to him, these practices have contributed to the destruction of lives and property during flood incidents in the state.

NOA To Deploy Officers To 27 LGAs

Ibrahim said the agency would continue to work with relevant authorities to ensure that residents receive timely and accurate information on flood risks and emergency preparedness.

He disclosed that Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers would be deployed across all 27 local government areas of the state, particularly to communities considered vulnerable to flooding.

He said, “In the coming days, we will deploy our Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers in the 27 local government areas to sensitise communities, especially those in flood-prone areas.”

The NOA director urged residents to take early warning advisories seriously, especially those issued by NiMet, which he said had a high level of accuracy.

He added, “We encourage citizens to strengthen environmental sanitation, ensure drainages are cleared of waste, and embrace tree planting to minimise the risk of flooding.”

Speaking on voter registration, Ibrahim said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resumed the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration on May 11, 2026.

He said the exercise would continue until July 10, 2026, at INEC state and local government offices, as well as designated centres across Jigawa State.

According to him, the exercise is meant for eligible citizens who have turned 18, those who missed previous registration phases and voters who want to transfer, replace or correct details on their Permanent Voter Cards.

He said, “NOA urges all eligible citizens to take advantage of this window to register and obtain their PVCs, as your voice starts with registration.”

Ibrahim also raised concerns over the misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, saying the agency had intensified sensitisation against the buying and selling of the product with support from UNICEF.

He commended the First Lady of Jigawa State, Hadiza Namadi, for supporting the campaign and lending her voice to efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable children.

The NOA director said RUTF was meant strictly for the treatment of severely malnourished children and should not be sold or consumed by adults.

He said, “Health experts have made it clear that RUTF is a specialised treatment for severely malnourished children, provided free by government and development partners, and not a commercial product.”

Ibrahim warned that despite ongoing campaigns, the product was still being sold in markets, shops and homes in some areas.

He said the practice denies malnourished children access to the treatment they need and puts their health at further risk.

He added, “We appeal to the media to sustain advocacy on this issue so that we can secure the future of our children.”

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