Christian Aid, in collaboration with the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has taken a flood awareness campaign to vulnerable communities in Kaduna State as part of efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and reduce the impact of flooding during the 2026 rainy season.
The sensitisation exercise, conducted under Christian Aid’s Enhancing Preparedness and Response (E-PREP) Project, reached Kigo Road and Rafin Guza communities in Kaduna North Local Government Area (LGA), as well as Karatudu and Nasarawa communities in Chikun LGA.
The campaign focused on educating residents on flood risks, early warning systems and practical safety measures to minimise the impact of flooding.
Speaking during the exercise, Christian Aid’s E-PREP Project representative, Michael Odache Aboh, said the initiative was designed to strengthen community resilience by equipping residents with the knowledge needed to prepare for and respond to flood emergencies.
He noted that the selected communities remain highly vulnerable because of their proximity to waterways and blocked drainage channels, which often result in flash floods during periods of heavy rainfall.
According to him, despite repeated interventions by government and humanitarian organisations, many residents continue to live in flood-prone areas due to emotional attachment to ancestral homes and concerns over the safety of their property.
“It is unfortunate that no matter what is done, many people still choose to remain in these flood-prone communities. Some say the places are their ancestral homes, while others fear that if they leave, their belongings may be stolen.
“If they must remain, it is important that they understand flood predictions, early warning information and the safety measures they are expected to take whenever flooding occurs,” Aboh said.
He called on government to strengthen preventive measures by stopping the allocation of land along riverbanks and other flood-prone locations, while advocating the dredging of rivers to improve water flow and reduce the risk of flooding.
Aboh also stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment, urging residents to pay attention to weather forecasts and flood alerts issued by relevant authorities, noting that climate change has made flooding more frequent and severe.
Also speaking, the Central Coordinator of the Kaduns SEMA, Mohammed Shafi Hassan, urged residents living along waterways to relocate to safer areas before floodwaters inundate their homes.
“The rainy season has started, and we are advising those living along waterways to relocate to safer areas before the flood comes and submerges their homes,” he said.
Hassan said that although formal temporary shelters had not yet been established, residents in high-risk locations should temporarily move to safer communities or stay with relatives while government continues to develop longer-term arrangements.
The flood awareness campaign forms part of ongoing efforts by Christian Aid, SEMA and UNICEF to strengthen disaster preparedness, promote community resilience and reduce the impact of flooding in vulnerable communities across Kaduna state.