Residents of Kano State have been left to count their losses following days of heavy rainfall witnessed in the state in the past weeks, Kano Chronicle reports.
Many of those who spoke with our reporters said floods that followed the heavy rainfalls destroyed their properties with the Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sale Aliyu Jili, putting the figures of houses destroyed at over 1,000.
The chairman added that apart from destroying houses, the flood had damaged property worth over N50 million, listing Bunkure, Minjibir, Kano Municipal and Ungogo Local government areas as worst hit.
Kano/Jigawa Chronicle reports that one of the heavy rainfall had washed away a bridge at Doguwa Local Government Area two weeks ago leading to the death of 19 people whose vehicle was washed off the collapsed bridge.
BUK students cry out
Students of Bayero University, Kano (BUK) residing at the Dambare area, off campus of the university, narrated their plight with the recent heavy downpour which they said has destroyed their property and rendered many of them helpless.
Saidu Abdulazeez, one of the students, told Kano/Jigawa Chronicle that the rain was so much to the extent that it entered their rooms, soaked their beds and forced them to move from one room to another.
Another student, who simply identified herself as Sarah, said the flood was terrible, adding: “I spent a long time taking out water and I had to pack out my belongings after the rain and slept at a friend’s room.”
A resident of Dambare, Bello Ibrahim, however, explained that the causes of the incessant flood were lack of drainage and indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the waterways.
The students called for the attention of appropriate authorities as the flood not only destroyed their property, but can also cause other health problems.
Earlier, the SEMA boss advised that “People should be watchful of the situation and always ensure drainages are dirt free and avoid dumping of refuse”.
Kano/Jigawa Chronicle reports that the state’s Ministry of Environment had at the onset of the raining season embarked on drainage clearance in the state metropolis, however, most of the drainages have become blocked again leading to floods on major roads including Zaria Road (that leads to Kaduna state) and Gwarzo Road, among others.
Business owners count losses
Business owners and other residents within the metropolis specifically lamented the cost of the incessant early morning rain the city has been witnessing in the past days with the attending overflow of waters from the blocked drainages to the roads.
Many of the business owners said they counted losses any day it rained in the morning as activities would be paused for the greater part of the day.
The incessant early morning rainfall has left people, especially the working class, in a critical situation as sometimes they found it difficult to manoeuvre their way in the heavy downpour.
The downpour usually falls when students and commuters set out for their daily activities.
The Principal of Glad Tidings School, Kano, Mrs Bashir A. told Chronicle that the rain usually destabilised school activities.
“Half of the teachers and students come late, while some could not show up as it becomes very difficult for commercial vehicles to operate,” she said.
Okiki Oladele, a student of the state polytechnic also lamented that the morning rainfall had made it difficult for him to meet up with his lectures as means of transportation were scarce and some of the roads flooded.
A tricycle rider, who identified himself as Umar, explained that most riders were not going out because the rain had messed up the roads, especially in suburbs. “The terrain is not good for the engine of our machines and it is also difficult to get passengers.”
By Zahraddeen Yakubu Shuaibu, Rabiu Mohammed, Wisdom Onyebuchi, Oyelakin Oyekola & Adama Ayuba
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