The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday sensitised Muslim worshippers in Kaduna to flood prevention to minimise the impact of the 2026 rainy season.

The sensitisation, held at the Sultan Bello Mosque during Jumat prayers, was organised by NEMA’s Kaduna Operations Office to strengthen public awareness and disaster preparedness in flood-prone communities.

Addressing the congregation, Head of NEMA’s Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Unit in Kaduna State, Ikramat Umar, urged residents to adopt preventive measures to reduce flood risks.

She advised against dumping refuse in drains and waterways, building on floodplains, and blocking drainage channels.

Ms Umar also urged residents to monitor weather forecasts, heed official early warning alerts, and relocate from flood-prone areas when necessary.

“Flood prevention is a shared responsibility. Communities must support environmental sanitation and other disaster risk reduction measures to protect lives and property,” she said.

The NEMA official said the campaign was in line with the directive of its Director-General, Zubaida Umar, to intensify public awareness and early warning dissemination in vulnerable communities.

According to her, the exercise is part of ongoing efforts to build community resilience and encourage proactive steps against flood-related disasters.

She said the campaign followed the release of the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the 2026 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).

She stated, “Both forecasts identified several communities in Kaduna State as vulnerable to flooding during the 2026 rainy season, underscoring the need for sustained public awareness and early preparedness.”

(NAN)