The Bauchi State Government has intensified efforts to prepare for possible flooding after the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) identified the state among areas at high risk, urging residents to stay away from practices that could worsen the situation.
Speaking on Tuesday at a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on the 2026 Flood Preparedness and Response organised by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL) in Bauchi, the Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Danlami Kawule, said the state was prioritising public awareness to minimise the impact of flooding.
According to Kawule, the engagement brought together religious leaders, traditional rulers and community representatives to equip them with information they could take back to their respective communities 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.
He stressed that residents must avoid actions that contribute to flooding, particularly constructing buildings on waterways and disposing of refuse in drainage channels.
“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.
The commissioner also warned that defaulters would face sanctions in line with existing environmental laws.
“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, disclosed that Governor Bala Mohammed received NIHSA’s National Flood Advisory on July 22, 2026, prompting the government to immediately begin implementing response measures.
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Kabir said the advisory ranked Bauchi as the state with the highest number of vulnerable locations nationwide.
He noted that NIHSA National Flood Advisory Alert No. NFA-2026-200 projected that 1,841 communities, 145 schools, 101 health facilities and eight markets across the state are susceptible to flooding, placing Bauchi 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.
He explained that the sensitisation campaign had been expanded beyond government institutions to include religious organisations and community-based groups in order to strengthen awareness at the grassroots.
“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.
Kabir further revealed that Governor Bala Mohammed had approved physical intervention projects for flood-prone communities, including desilting operations and other mitigation measures aimed at reducing flood risks.
“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 enhanced coordination among relevant government agencies would be vital in reducing the impact of flooding and improving disaster mitigation efforts across Bauchi State.