Following several hours of heavy downpour in Kaduna on Wednesday, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has urged residents in flood-prone areas to begin a plan to relocate to safer areas so as to avoid being overtaken by flood disaster.

The executive secretary of SEMA, Mr. Ben Kure, said that based on prediction by Nigeria Hydrological Services Agencies (NIHSA), highly culpable areas in the state include Chikun, Igabi, Soba, Kaura, Kaduna North and Kaduna South LGAs.

According to him, as a result of the over seven hours of downpour yesterday, water level reached the windows of some houses at Kamazou and Ungwan Maigero in Chikun LGA of the state. He, however, advised all those residing close to rivers, waterways and other flood-prone areas to relocate to avoid any form of disaster.

“Nobody can guarantee because based on prediction, there is going to be heavy rain that may lead to flood in the state,” he said while he appealed to the general public to adopt ownership approach and clear all drainages close to them to avoid flood. “Don’t wait for government please,” he said.

He, however, disclosed that the Agency had embarked on public sensitisation campaign in flood prone-areas around Kigo Road, Nassarawa, Gonin Gora and Ungwar Romi in Kaduna among others. The campaign he said was undertaken because of the need to remind the residents of the need to relocate from flood-prone areas to safer places, in view of the predictions by relevant agencies.(Daily Trust)