When angry flood visited Kano

From Desmond Mgboh, Kano

On Tuesday, a three-storey building under construction on Beirut Road, Kano, Kano State, suddenly collapsed, trapping scores of victims. The accident shocked the state. It left two people dead and seven others injured. The injured were admitted at the Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital, Kano.

Although government pledged to conduct an investigation, the popular view is that the building came down after it was soaked by the downpour which occurred the previous day.

Monday’s rainfall in Kano metropolis was unprecedented. It came down without the usual crazy breeze or haste. It started with a dark blue cloudy sky, dizzying thereafter and then releasing a prolonged shower that lasted from 10:00 am to 3.00pm.

The flood overwhelmed Festing by Burma Road Junction, some parts of Sokoto Road, Zungeru, by Gwagwachi brigde, Babagwari Roundabout, near the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.

Other areas affected are Kano Club Roundabout, Airport Road by Ammadiyya Junction and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital axis by Zaria Roadabout, including Jaba general area in Ungogo Local Government among other spots.

One of the worst-hit locations is the popular Kanti Kwari Market where goods, particularly textile materials, worth over N300 million were reportedly destroyed. No fewer than 300 shops and stalls were affected.

Bello Maigari deals in textile materials in the market. He lamented that the flood found its ways into previously secured areas within his shops, damaging whatever was left on the floor. He added that he was not at his shop when the rain began.

Daily Sun gathered that the flood was made worse by the waterways in the market which in many cases, were blocked by recently constructed structures. This is the case around Layin Ta ambo,Rijiyar Baba and Gidan Kasim warure areas of the market

Another speculation for  the flood is the culture of handling waste items. Many traders dump their waste anywhere and everywhere. They make no effort to neatly throw them away and afar.

Like their Kanti Kwari traders, many residents of Sabon – Garri were left in grief by the rainfall. “The flood found its way into our compound and our room, some of it coming from the very dirty, smelling backyard,” said Anthonia Agbo, a resident of Festing Road, Sabon – Garri.

“We tried to block the water from the main entry, but the volume was much. When we got tired, we switched efforts to saving whatever we could. It was really a mess,” she decried.

A middle aged man, identified as Coach Francis, told Daily Sun: “Many streets and compounds in our area have no exit waterways  or where there are, these gutters or what looked like them, it has long been filled with earth sands.

“Roads in this area, built several years ago, have been abandoned by successive governments, resulting that whatever is left cannot counter the force of a serious rainfall.

“It is obvious that the waterways here are often covered with dirt. This blocks any flowing water from its intended direction or redirects it elsewhere, where it is obviously a nuisance.”

For many residents, the flooding led to losses in businesses, destruction of farmlands, unsettlements in homes and deaths. It is an annual experience, especially for those residing near ponds and river areas or badly constructed structures.

Executive Secretary, Kano State Emergency Management Agency, Saleh Jilli, said since April, nine persons lost their lives and nine others injured as a result of flood: “Since this April, 6,417 houses and property worth N541.6 million have been destroyed by flood and windstorm in 10 local government areas including Doguwa, Kibya, Kiru, Rano,. Dambatta, Tsanyanwa , Gwale, Ajingi, Dawakin Kudu and Albasu.”

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar not only donated N50 million to the affected  traders, but also paid a sympathy visit to the market.

Deputy Governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gwanna, expressed grief over the tragic incident. Commissioner for Information, Mohammed Garba, announced the cancellation of the swearing-in of the new commissioners in solidarity with the mood of the state.

Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, expressed sadness and enjoined the people to avoid dumping wastes inside waterways. His spokesman, Abibakar Balarabe Kofar Naisa, stressed the need for scholars to join hands with government in finding ways to end perennial flooding in the state.