Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has expressed deep concern over the devastating impact of floods which have directly affected more than 40,000 households in 2024.
According to The PUNCH, the governor highlighted that 23 out of the 27 Local Government Areas in the state have been severely impacted by the floods.
The House of Representatives committee on ecological funds, during an oversight visit to flood victims in Jigawa State, pointed to climate change, deforestation, and land degradation as key factors exacerbating the yearly flooding in Nigeria.
The committee’s chairman, Dr. Aminu Jaji, through a statement issued by his media aide Jamilu Magaji on Wednesday evening, emphasized that the visit was part of their oversight responsibilities.
The aim was to witness the situation firsthand and determine how the Federal Government could alleviate the suffering caused by the flood disaster.
The statement noted, “The oversight visit was at the instance of the Jigawa State Governor Malam Ummaru Namadi in Dutse and other strategic places within the state.”
The committee chairman, Dr. Aminu Jaji, expressed shock at the extent of the tragedy in Jigawa, identifying desertification, land degradation, and the climate change crisis, along with deforestation, as the major challenges facing flood-prone areas in Nigeria.
He affirmed that their oversight visits would extend beyond Jigawa to other states affected by flooding, allowing the committee to assess the situation for potential remedies.
During the visit, Dr. Jaji assured the Jigawa State Governor that the committee would support the state in implementing sustainable land management practices and climate change control measures.
“The committee identified Jigawa State as one of the frontline states affected by flooding, gully erosion, desertification, and land degradation. Hence the need for the committee to do all it can to offer a solution to the problems confronting the people of the state is enormous,” he added.
In response, Governor Namadi expressed his gratitude to the committee for prioritizing Jigawa as their first destination, particularly in light of the recurring flood disasters that plague the state annually.
He revealed that 7,000 houses had been destroyed or submerged due to heavy rainfall, with around 6,500 farmlands also devastated in the affected local government areas.
The governor further disclosed that nearly 8,000 people, predominantly from households, have been displaced and are currently seeking refuge in various unofficial Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state.
Outlining the measures taken by the Jigawa State Government to mitigate the frequent flood disasters, Namadi stated, “His administration has championed the planting of 5.5 million trees within the state.”
He urged the committee to assist the people of Jigawa by supporting initiatives that would help secure the environment and prevent future disasters.
