Jigawa Earmarks ₦4.2 Billion for Proactive Flood Emergency Response Amidst NiMet Warning

The Jigawa State Government has announced a substantial allocation of ₦4.2 billion for flood mitigation and emergency response services, as the state braces for anticipated heavy rainfall and potential flooding in the 2025 rainy season. The proactive measure follows predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) identifying Jigawa as one of the states highly vulnerable to floods this year.

Dr. Abdullahi Sa’id, Chairman of the Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs), disclosed the impressive fund during a town hall meeting held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, in Ringim, the headquarters of Ringim Local Government Area. The meeting was jointly organized by the Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) and the Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

The comprehensive allocation comprises ₦4 billion set aside by the state government under SEMA, complemented by ₦11 million contributed by each of the state’s 27 Local Government Areas (LGAs) last month. The funds are earmarked to enhance emergency response and pre-empt disaster in 21 LGAs across the state that NiMet has specifically predicted will experience flooding.

Dr. Sa’id explained that the state government, under Governor Umar Namadi’s directive, has also established LEMCs in all 27 LGAs. These committees, each comprising 20 members and headed by the respective LGA Vice Chairmen, are tasked with coordinating flood mitigation efforts through extensive public enlightenment campaigns and crucial desilting exercises within communities to ensure unimpeded water flow during the heavy rains.

In addition to these community-level efforts, Mr. Adamu Sabo, the Managing Director of JISEPA, highlighted ongoing flood preparedness and environmental sanitation drives. He emphasized that the state government is actively dredging rivers in vulnerable communities to facilitate seamless water passage, particularly in anticipation of potential excess water releases from the Tiga, Bagauda, and Challawa dams in neighboring Kano State. Sabo described these measures as a “life and property saving effort,” urging residents to avoid actions that could exacerbate flooding, such as indiscriminate waste disposal in waterways.

Jigawa State has a history of devastating floods, with the 2022 disaster affecting over 241,000 people, claiming 115 lives, and displacing more than 81,000 residents. This significant financial commitment and strategic planning demonstrate the state government’s resolve to minimize human and material losses in the upcoming rainy season, aiming to protect its citizens and infrastructure. The Emir of Ringim, Alhaji Sayyadi Mahmud, represented by Alhaji Nasiru Isa-Mahmud, lauded the government’s proactive steps, stressing that early mitigation efforts are crucial for community safety.