Flood: KADSEMA Activates Emergency Team, 7 Safe Havens

By; ISAAC ODEH, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA) has activated its Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) and established seven Safe Haven Centres across the state in preparation for anticipated flooding.

Dr. Usman Mazadu, Executive Secretary of KADSEMA, disclosed this on Tuesday, during a high-level flood preparedness meeting with stakeholders in Kaduna.

He said the meeting served as a practical planning session to assess their readiness, strengthen coordination, and ensure joint action for effective flood response.

“This is not a ceremonial event. It is a platform for planning, assessment, and joint action,” he said.

Mazadu stated that the initiative aligns with Gov. Uba Sani’s secen-Point Sustainable Development Agenda, which prioritises safety, security, and disaster prevention.

He said flood-prone communities had been sensitised, and relief materials pre-positioned in some strategic locations.

Mazadu said the safe haven centres that were stocked with food, tents, and essential supplies were designed to shelter displaced persons.

He added that the ECC that were located at the KD-ICT/Disaster Control Centre, would coordinate emergency operations during the flood season.

Mazadu reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to protecting lives and property, stressing that disaster preparedness was central to the state’s security strategy.

Also speaking, Mr Mohammed Zakari, KADSEMA’s Director of Disaster and Relief, identified weak enforcement of building regulations as a major cause of urban flooding, citing illegal structures along waterways.

He said relevant agencies including KASUPDA and KADGIS had been notified, and KADSEMA had written to the Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) to act against indiscriminate waste dumping in drainage systems.

Zakari added that simulation exercises would be conducted to test inter-agency response, while grassroots emergency committees, headed by local government Vice Chairmen, were being strengthened to enhance early warning and response.

He said the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) presented its seasonal climate forecast at the meeting, highlighting potential risks to agriculture, transportation, infrastructure, and public health.

He stated that risk assessments in high-risk and windstorm-prone areas were ongoing to guide short- and long-term mitigation efforts.

The stakeholders also toured emergency shelters and assessed the preparedness of response teams across local government