Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has said that 23 persons were killed and 20,399 houses destroyed by flood and windstorm in 25 Local Government Areas of the state from April to date.
Executive Secretary of the agency, Dr Saleh Jili, disclosed this to newsmen at International Press Conference in Commemoration to mark 2022 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) in Kano on Friday.
The press conference with the theme: 2022 IDDRR Early Warning and Early Action for all # Only Together.
Read Also: Building collapse claims 2 lives, injured other in Kano
He said the IDDR day was set aside by the United Nations to celebrate people working to save other people’s lives, restore hope build confidence and give them sense of belonging after suffering devastations brought upon them by these clamities.
Jili noted that 20,399 victims were affected by flood/windstorm, 23 persons lost their lives,100 persons were injured, 15,000 farms were destroyed,rescued eight people trapped in a collasped building at Beirut Road GSM Market Kano and properties worth N2.1 billion were destroyed.
According to him, the state government has set up strong mechanisms aimed at mitigating risk and disaster across the state.
On his part, the Kano State Governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, has reiterated its commitment to the protection of lives and property of it’s citizens in the state.
Ganduje represented by the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Dr Kabiru Getso, said the IDDRR day is to reflect on how exposed communities are to risk and hazards around their environment and what they are doing in tackling them”
“Disaster management include prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery, as well as supporting the victims to survive.”
He called on the general public to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainages,water ways and adhere to building codes, environmental rules and regulations and regular clearance of drainages.
Prof. Rabiu Abdussalam-Magaji, from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, presented a paper on how to mitigate disaster risk reduction.
Also speaking the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Kano Territorial coordinator, Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, called on all relevant Stakeholders, NGO’s to be committed on early warning to mitigate flood.
Daily Focus reports that SEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, DSS, Nigeria Red Cross, FRSC, NSCDC, NEMA, Navy, Nigerian Army, Police, Kano State Fire Service and Permanent Secretary Kano State Special Duties were among the participants.
