By maryam Diallo
A coalition of civil society organizations and environmental advocates has carried out an assessment tour of flood-affected communities in Kaduna metropolis, warning against the dangers of building houses along waterways.
Leading the team, Rev. Kuzasuwah Ishaya Peter, Executive Director of Love N Compassion (LOCOM) and State Coordinator of the Society for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), said the visit was aimed at evaluating the level of damage caused by this year’s flooding on residents and farmlands along the riverbanks.
Speaking after the tour, Rev. Peter noted that many families continue to live in high-risk flood zones despite the dangers involved.
“We observed people still residing in flood-prone areas with their families This is unsafe because flooding often brings waterborne diseases and rodents that endanger entire communities.
It is also not proper for citizens to build houses along riverbanks or waterways, as it worsens the flooding problem,” he said.
He urged the state government to demolish illegal structures built on waterways and provide alternative settlements for the affected residents to prevent further loss of lives and property.
He also advised tenants living in such areas to relocate voluntarily for their own safety.
“It is painful to see parents and children exposed to such risks. I don’t know who granted the permits for these houses, but I doubt they went through the right channels. Government intervention is urgently needed,” he stressed.
Also speaking during the tour, Comrade Nasiru Abbas, Director of the Water Right Initiative (WRI), expressed concern over the devastating impact of the floods 2025.
“What we witnessed shocked us. The floods have displaced families, destroyed properties, and forced people to migrate.
We are calling on the government to stop the sale of land near rivers and dams and to develop long-term measures to protect residents,” Abbas said.
On his part, Ibrahima Yakubu, Head of Communication and Strategies at African Climate Reporters (ACR), commended the state government for its ongoing river dredging projects in flood-prone areas, describing it as an important step in reducing the risk of future floods.
Yakubu also called on citizens to stop indiscriminate dumping of waste into drainages, which contributes significantly to flooding.
He commended the participation of civil society groups, NGOs, and journalists who took part in the assessment, adding that the team visited Unguwar Rimi, Kalaba Costain, Kigo Road, and Bashama Road in Tudun Wada, Kaduna.
One of the residents name withheld says, they are poor and they need government support
He said, no one want to live hear, but it’s the situation they find themselves in
