From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has organised a three-day stakeholders’ workshop aimed at strengthening preparedness against possible outbreaks of cholera and flooding during the annual rainy season.
The workshop, held in Kano, brought together traditional rulers, religious leaders, representatives of government agencies, and members of Local Government Emergency Management Committees to develop strategies for early response and disaster prevention.
Speaking at the event, the Katsina State Statistician General, Professor Saifullahi Ibrahim, stressed the need for proactive measures rather than waiting for disasters to occur before taking action.
Professor Ibrahim said the 2026 seasonal outlook by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) identified several local government areas in Katsina State as high-risk zones due to expected rainfall patterns and river discharge levels.
He also revealed that findings from the Katsina State Bureau of Statistics 2026 WASH Survey showed that about 38 percent of rural households still depend on unprotected wells and surface water sources, exposing residents to a higher risk of cholera outbreaks, especially after flooding.
“Historical records from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the State Ministry of Health show that cholera cases in Katsina usually increase between two and four weeks after major flood events,” he said.
The Statistician General announced that the State Bureau of Statistics would produce a 2026 Flood and Cholera Vulnerability Atlas before the peak of the rainy season, alongside a cross-sectoral early warning dashboard and post-season impact assessment.
“If we get the planning right now, we will save lives, farms and public funds,” Professor Ibrahim added.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Katsina State Emergency Management Agency, Binta Dangani, described flooding as a recurring disaster that affects lives, property and infrastructure across the state during every rainy season.
Dangani said the expected outcome of the engagement was to develop a comprehensive preparedness strategy that would improve the state’s capacity to prevent, mitigate and respond effectively to flood emergencies.
