The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has cautioned residents of Jigawa State against activities contributing to recurrent flooding, especially in vulnerable communities across the state.
The warning follows recent predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), which identified Jigawa among states likely to experience severe flooding during the 2026 rainy season.
Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, the state Director of NOA, Ahmad Ibrahim, said the agency had intensified sensitisation efforts on flood mitigation and emergency preparedness.
“The campaign covers flood mitigation and emergency preparedness, continuous voter registration, and discouraging the misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food,” Ibrahim said.
He explained that flooding has become a recurring challenge in the state, worsened by climate change and unsafe environmental practices.
“Flooding is a recurring natural disaster aggravated by climate change and often worsened by human activities such as waste disposal in waterways, poor infrastructure maintenance and illegal construction on floodplains,” he stated.
Ibrahim noted that indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage systems, poor maintenance of infrastructure, construction on waterways, and deforestation have continued to worsen flooding incidents in many communities.
According to him, the consequences have included destruction of farmlands, houses, property, and in some cases, loss of lives.
“Poor drainage systems, indiscriminate dumping of waste in drainages, construction of buildings on waterways, as well as excessive deforestation, contribute significantly to the recurring incidences of flooding,” he added.
The NOA director said the agency would collaborate with relevant authorities to ensure timely dissemination of flood-related information to residents.
“In the coming days, we will deploy our Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers in the 27 local government areas to sensitise communities, especially those in flood-prone areas,” Ibrahim disclosed.
He also urged residents to pay attention to early weather advisories issued by NiMet, stressing that such forecasts are highly reliable.
“We encourage citizens to strengthen environmental sanitation, ensure drainages are cleared of waste, and embrace tree planting to minimise the risk of flooding,” he said.
On voter registration, Ibrahim revealed that the Independent National Electoral Commission resumed the third phase of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise on May 11, 2026, which is expected to end on July 10, 2026.
He urged eligible residents, particularly first-time voters and those seeking corrections or transfers of their Permanent Voter Cards, to take advantage of the exercise.
“NOA urges all eligible citizens to take advantage of this window to register and obtain their PVCs, as your voice starts with registration,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the misuse of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), Ibrahim warned against the sale and improper consumption of the product, which is specifically meant for severely malnourished children.
“Health experts have made it clear that RUTF is a specialised treatment for severely malnourished children, provided free by government and development partners, and not a commercial product,” he stressed.
He further appealed to the media to sustain awareness campaigns to protect vulnerable children and curb the illegal sale of the therapeutic food.
“We appeal to the media to sustain advocacy on this issue so that we can secure the future of our children,” Ibrahim concluded.
