The Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has placed divisional officers and residents on red alert on the dangers of floods.

In a statement on Tuesday, the command’s spokesperson, Habeeb Badamasi, said the alert followed predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) on possible flooding.

He said the state commandant, Idris Adah, stated this in an interaction with affected officers and the need to sensitise residents of the affected areas on how to mitigate and respond to the natural disaster.

Mr Badamasi said the warning had become imperative, considering the frequency and high degree of rains in August, which would last till the end of September and even part of October.

“The situation demands urgent and absolute attention to collectively take sensitisation to the door-steps of the susceptible population by working in synergy with relevant stakeholders.

“The stakeholders include National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) at the federal and state levels.”

He said the commandant specifically called on disaster management unit, divisional officers in charge of Kaduna-North, Kaduna-South, Chikun and Jema’a to ensure swift and proactive action to mitigate the situation.

The commandant called on residents of Kabala Costain, Kabala Doki and Kigo Road in Kaduna-North, Bashama Road in Tudun-Wada in Kaduna-South as well as communities around the river bank which include Nasarawa and Keke B.

Other areas include Tudun Mashigi, kurmi and Doka Mai Jema’a in Chikun Local Government Area to adhere to the warning by taking preventive measures and relocating from the highly vulnerable locations.

The commandant said they should avoid a reoccurrence of the preventable disasters in the past where people lost their lives and valuable property worth millions of Naira were destroyed.

He called on residents of the state to report flood-related issues that threatened the well-being of the people to NSCDC and other security agencies for prompt attention.

(NAN)