Water, water everywhere in the city of commerce

“It has become a perennial misfortune that whenever the state witnesses  heavy rainfall, it definitely means a lot of people will find it difficult to get to their respective homes from places of work or business. Motorists, motorcyclists and other road users have to battle to pass through many roads after the downpour. It is […]

“It has become a perennial misfortune that whenever the state witnesses  heavy rainfall, it definitely means a lot of people will find it difficult to get to their respective homes from places of work or business. Motorists, motorcyclists and other road users have to battle to pass through many roads after the downpour.
It is indeed a pathetic sight to see many people battling with their vehicles and tricycles that have developed one problem or the other in the process of passing through the flooded roads; some plunge into culverts, others break  down inside water and some collide with incoming vehicles and so on. As you can see here two vehicles have developed problems while trying to pass through the flooded road.”
These are the testimonies of Alhaji Kabiru Isa, a resident of Badawa quarters, who spoke to Daily Trust on the incessant flooding along Sulaiman Crescent by Ahmadu Bello Way in Nassarawa GRA, Kano.
Corroborating Isa’s assertion, Emmanuel John, a Vulcanizer  at the junction which  links the two roads, said whenever it rains, he will be left with no option than to pack his belongings and go back home, as flood will never let him continue with his business for the remaining hours of the day.

He said: “Water always flooded this area as you can see. There is no way I can continue with business in this kind of situation. My major business here after any heavy rainfall, is to help motorists move their vehicles out of the flooded road.”
It was reported that at the beginning of the present administration, a one week sanitation exercise was declared by the state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje with the intention of killing two birds with one stone; first, it was to ensure a  clean environment and second, to clear all drainages in Kano metropolis which will allow for the smooth flow of water.
However, it appears that the set objectives have not been achieved in many parts of the state, as in less than 100 days into the 4-year tenure of the Ganduje-led administration,  the state was confronted with a series of major floods.
Daily Trust observed that the flood disaster was occurring as a result of either blockage of drainages, or their complete absence as in the case of some affected areas.
From the beginning of this year’s rainy session to date, Kano has experienced heavy downpour on three occasions, which all led to devastating flooding in the state with the latest one happening on Monday, September 7, 2015.

The first heavy rainfall that caused serious flooding in the state fell  on August 3 while the second was on 20th of the same month. It was also gathered that dozens of houses were damaged by floods in various quarters across Kano metropolis.
Our reporter observed that  it has been a tradition for most people in the state to rush home whenever they spot pregnant clouds  which  could result in rain, and as such it has also become a tradition in the state that during and after heavy rainfall, motorists and other road users must go through hectic  traffic jams  within the metropolis, before they could reach their various destinations.
The worst affected areas, Daily Trust observed include Gorondutse, Gwale, Sauna, Gyadi-Gyadi, Dorayi quarters, Ahmadu Bello Way, Sulaiman Crescent, Dankura Adamu road, Dangi roundabout, Zoo road, Kurmi market, Kundila Housing by Court road, Kantin-Kwari market, Kofar Nassarawa and Gwarzo road.
Other affected areas are Lamido road, Kofar Ruwa market, Sultan road, Sharada quarters, Airport road by Brigade Junction, first bank roundabout by Bank road and Post office road as well as the Civic Centre road among others.
It was observed that many roads in the metropolis including those that were recently  commissioned have been damaged by the floods.

Consequently, many traders at Kantin kwari, Kofar Ruwa and Kurmi markets have been sacked by flood, as their shops were submerged, and goods worth millions of Naira were washed away due to blockage of drainages in the markets.
However, indiscriminate dumping of refuse inside culverts by the residents was said to be a responsible factor for the blockage of water passageways, hence, the flooding.
Aliyu Ibrahim Gwale whose residence was affected by the flood, appealed to government to assist the victims of the disaster, as according to him the victims need to be assisted to alleviate their sufferings.
He said: “I have lost some valuable items to the flood and I will be happy if government will come to my aid through provision of building materials to fix my collapsed wall.”
Isa Kabiru, a trader at Kwari market who was also affected by the flood, said he could not believe the level of the damage caused by the flood in the market, noting that within a short time the whole place was flooded and many traders were affected by the disaster.
He said: “Although the rain did not last long, it has caused serious damage to many traders in the market. Traders have lost a greater part of their wares and also textile materials have been damaged.”
A driver, Alhaji Aminu Alkassim, lamented that the flooding is causing serious traffic jam along Gwarzo road and other areas in the state.According to him it usually became very hectic  for drivers to find their way out of the traffic jam due to the fact that every driver is seeking a simple exit out of the jam.
“Drivers had to wait for like an hour or so to allow the flood subside before they could move on with their journey. Drainages in many parts of the state were blocked, making the water stagnant on the main roads. Government should do something to address this problem before it gets  out of hand,” he said.

Alhaji Garba Muhammad, a resident of Gyadi-gyadi, said people living in that area have recorded huge losses amounting to millions of Naira as a result of the damages caused by the flood, adding that some residences  were rendered homeless as the damages they incurred could not be managed.
Muhammad therefore, appealed to residents in the area to desist from the habit of dumping refuse inside culverts, as according to him it was the major cause of flooding.
Reacting to the situation in the state, the chairman of the Kano State Central Working Committee on Community Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Garba Aminu, blamed some metropolitan local government councils for not keeping to their responsibilities of serving the public best.
Aminu lamented that the state government had earlier directed the eight metropolitan local government authorities to be helping the association by providing them with necessary working tools, a directive he said the local government councils failed to comply with.
“All we need from these local governments authorities is to help us with working tools so that we can work effectively. It is apparent that with enough working materials such as wheel barrows, shovels and diggers  among others, we will be able to clear our culverts and possibly prevent flooding,” Aminu said.
However, worried by the situation, the state government through the Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB) has embarked on rigorous sensitization campaigns  against indiscriminate dumping of refuse , as well as encouraging the public to clear their drainages for smooth flow of water.
It was revealed that the agency has sponsored Radio jingles in various FM stations in the state ,with a view to sensitizing the public on the importance of avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
Also, the state government has approved the release of N28m for the rehabilitation of drainages at Kantin-kwari market , which is among the areas hits by flooding in the state recently.
The state commissioner of information, Alhaji Muhammad Garba, who stated this recently, said government is concerned about flood disasters  being experienced by residents in some parts of the state metropolis, saying “government is committed to  addressing the problem.”