Bauchi activates flood plan, warns against building on waterways

The Bauchi State Government has intensified its flood preparedness efforts following a flood alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, urging residents to avoid building on waterways and dumping waste in drainages to reduce the impact of anticipated flooding.

The Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Danlami Kawule, disclosed this on Tuesday during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on the 2026 Flood Preparedness and Response organised by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project in Bauchi.

Kawule said the meeting was convened to sensitise critical stakeholders, including religious leaders, traditional rulers and community representatives, on measures to protect lives and property ahead of the peak of the rainy season.

“Today, we are having a roundtable discussion with critical stakeholders to create awareness on how to protect ourselves from flooding. The key to protecting people from floods is awareness.

“That is why we invited religious leaders, traditional rulers and other organisations to discuss with them. We believe they will return to their communities and pass this message, and they will work with us,” he said.

The commissioner urged residents to refrain from activities that increase flood risks.

“The message is simple. We are asking people not to build on waterways and not to dump waste in drainage. These are some of the issues we discussed with stakeholders because they are essential to protecting lives and property,” he said.

Kawule warned that anyone found violating environmental regulations would face legal consequences.

“There are agencies responsible for ensuring compliance with these regulations. Anyone who refuses to follow the rules will be dealt with according to the law,” he stated.

Earlier, the Bauchi State ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Dr Ibrahim Kabir, said Governor Bala Mohammed received the National Flood Advisory issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency on July 22, 2026, prompting the state government to activate response measures.

Kabir revealed that the advisory identified Bauchi as the state with the highest number of vulnerable locations in the country.

According to him, the NIHSA National Flood Advisory Alert No. NFA-2026-200 projected that Bauchi has 1,841 vulnerable communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets at risk of flooding, ahead of Edo, Imo, Kaduna, Plateau and Benue states.

“We received the prediction and immediately responded by engaging stakeholders at different levels. Although the alert came late, we felt it was important to act quickly because even a few minutes can change the entire situation,” he said.

Kabir explained that the project had expanded its engagement beyond conventional institutions to include religious groups and community-based organisations to strengthen grassroots awareness.

“We have received encouraging feedback from participants. Many requested that we hold similar engagements in schools, markets, churches and other community centres, and we are committed to doing that,” he added.

He also disclosed that Governor Bala Mohammed had approved physical intervention measures in flood-prone communities, including desilting exercises and other mitigation projects.

“Beyond sensitisation, we now have the resources and approval to visit vulnerable areas and provide physical interventions. As ACReSAL, our responsibility is to support relevant institutions such as the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency, the State Emergency Management Agency and other ministries to respond effectively to disasters,” Kabir said.

He added that stronger collaboration among government agencies would help minimise the impact of flooding and strengthen mitigation efforts across the state.