The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) says it has identified 708 illegal structures erected in flood-prone areas.

Usman Mazadu, the agency’s executive secretary, said this during a two-day assessment tour of flood-prone areas in Kaduna.

According to him, the assessment is necessary to assist the agency in effectively mitigating the Nigeria Meteorological Agency’s predicted flood outlook for Kaduna.

He said, “Based on reports from relevant stakeholders, about 708 identified structures were erected in the flood-prone area across the state.”

Mr Mazadu said the agency had constituted an ad hoc team to assess the status of flood-prone areas for effective planning and implementation.

He assured that the agency, with its relevant stakeholders, would do everything possible to minimise the effects of flood in the state to the barest minimum.

Mr Mazadu called on the residents of the state to shun the habit of indiscriminate dumping of refuse on drainage systems to prevent the bane of flooding.

Speaking shortly after the tour, Malam Hussaini Abdullahi, head of the Disaster Risk Reduction Unit, KADSEMA, said the move was part of the agency’s proactive measures to reduce the impact of floods in Kaduna.

He urged the residents to adhere to the procedures for developing any landed property by following the appropriate channels to avert flooding.

The flood assessment team visited Rafin Guza, Kigo Road, Bashama Road, Unguwan Rimi and Unguwan Dosa in Kaduna North LGA.

Others were Anguwar Romi, Gonin Gora and Sabon Tasha in Chikun LGA.

The National Emergency Management Agency, Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Authority (KASUPDA), Kaduna Geographic and Information Service (KADGIS), Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA), Red Cross, and the Ministry of Environment attended the event.

(NAN)