Christian Aid, in collaboration with stakeholders, on Tuesday sensitised residents of Romi community in Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State to flood preparedness to reduce risks to lives and property.

The campaign, carried out under the Disaster Risk Reduction Project, was supported by the European Union, the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Orientation Agency (NOA).

Michael Oboh, programme officer of the project, said the exercise was aimed at raising awareness on the dangers of flooding, often worsened by human activities such as indiscriminate waste disposal.

He identified Sarkin Yaki and Shamaki streets in Ungwan Sule, Romi, as flood-prone areas, noting that clogged waterways from improper refuse disposal frequently caused rivers to overflow into houses.

Mr Oboh urged the residents of the community to prepare ahead of the rainy season by clearing their surroundings and avoiding settlement along waterways to safeguard lives and property.

Rahama Suleiman, assistant director, NOA, heading the Environment, Climate and Energy Department, described the sensitisation as timely, given NiMet’s 2025 alert that listed Kaduna among 29 flood-prone states.

She said blocked drainages observed in Romi underscored the need for continuous awareness and strict enforcement of sanitation laws to prevent the residents from endangering lives through indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

Ruth Markus, director of education and social development, Chikun Local Government, said the exercise aligned with ongoing council’s efforts to promote environmental cleanliness.

She expressed concern that Romi residents had yet to fully comply with measures introduced by the council through the chiefdom, area committees and health committees.

Ms Markus urged the residents to embrace good sanitation practices not only to prevent flooding but also to promote public health, stressing that “a healthy environment is a godly environment.”

She added that the council, in collaboration with SEMA and Christian Aid, had stepped down trainings to communities and expected greater compliance to avoid devastating floods.

Yahaya Mohammed, comptroller-general of the Safety Awareness and Environmental Support Initiative, commended the turnout of residents, describing the exercise as successful despite rainfall during the campaign.

He lauded the collaboration of partners, including SEMA, NOA and the media, stressing that sustained community engagement remained critical to reducing flood risks in the state.

 (NAN)