The Bauchi State Government has stepped up flood preparedness efforts following a flood alert issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, urging residents to avoid building on waterways and dumping refuse in drainages to reduce the risk of flooding.

The Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Danlami Kawule, appealed 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 safeguard 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,” he said.

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

The commissioner urged residents to refrain from activities that increase the risk of flooding.

“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 violators of environmental regulations would face sanctions in accordance with the law.

“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 acted on the National Flood Advisory issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency on July 22, 2026, by directing the activation of response measures across the state.

Kabir said the advisory identified Bauchi as the state with the highest number of flood-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, ranking it 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 sensitisation campaign beyond conventional institutions to include religious groups and community-based organisations in a bid 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 projects in flood-prone communities.

“Beyond sensitisation, we now have the resources and approval to visit vulnerable areas and carry out 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 improve disaster mitigation efforts across the state.