Katsina State Strengthens Flood and Cholera Preparedness for Rainy Season

Katsina State is proactively preparing for the anticipated challenges of the 2026 rainy season by strengthening its flood preparedness and cholera readiness. Governor Dikko Radda, in collaboration with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the State Bureau of Statistics, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), has initiated a three-day workshop engaging various stakeholders.

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Though our venue is Kano, our mission is Katsina. The rains are already starting across the North. We cannot afford to wait for disaster before we act.

The workshop, held in Kano, brings together representatives from all 34 Local Government Area Emergency Management Committees, government ministries, development partners, and traditional and religious leaders. The primary objective is to develop realistic and fundable action plans by fostering collaboration between different sectors, including environment, health, water, education, and budget committees. Statistician-General of Katsina State, Prof. Saifullahi Ibrahim, stressed the need for proactive measures, stating, "We cannot afford to wait for disaster before we act."

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Flood and cholera do not operate in silos. Neither should our response. When the Environment sits with Health, Water with Education, and Budget with LEMCs, then our action plan will be realistic and fundable.

Concerns about heightened risks are based on credible data. The National Inland Waterways Authority's 2026 Seasonal Outlook has identified several Katsina LGAs as high-risk areas due to expected rainfall and river discharge patterns. Furthermore, findings from the Bureau's 2025 WASH Survey reveal that 38% of rural households still rely on unprotected wells and surface water, making them highly susceptible to cholera outbreaks following floods. Historical data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and the State Ministry of Health confirm that cholera cases in Katsina typically spike two to four weeks after major flood events.

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If we get the planning right now, we will save lives, farms and public funds later.

To combat these threats, the Bureau of Statistics will produce a 2026 Flood and Cholera Vulnerability Atlas before the peak rainfall period. This will be complemented by a cross-sectoral early warning dashboard and a post-season impact assessment report. Governor Radda emphasized the importance of this planning phase, stating, "If we get the planning right now, we will save lives, farms and public funds later." SEMA Executive Secretary Binta Dangani highlighted that flooding remains one of the most devastating natural disasters affecting the state, causing displacement, destruction of farmlands, and damage to infrastructure year after year.

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Flooding remains one of the most devastating natural disasters affecting Katsina State. Year after year, many communities experience the adverse effects of floods, resulting in displacement of families, destruction of farmlands, damage to public infrastructure and loss of valuable economic assets.