Jigawa Govt To Spend N10.8Bn On Gully Erosion Control
By: Ahmed Aminu, Dutse
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, on Saturday inaugurated the commencement of a massive gully erosion control project in Dutse, the state capital.
The Syndicate reports that the seven kilometre project will run from Danmasara through Kalgo and terminate in Yalwawa.
Speaking while lunching the project, the governor said it will gulp N10.88 billion.
He said that the project will be funded under the World-Bank Assisted ACReSAL Project being implemented in partnership with the State Government.
“This aligns with one of our inaugural speech commitments where we pledged to leverage on the World Bank supported ACReSAL Project and other National Programmes of the Federal Ministry of Environment to promote agro-climatic resilience and environmental sustainability in the state,” Namadi said.
According to him one of his priority commitments to the people is promoting environmental sustainability to address the devastating effects of flooding, desertification, land degradation and the gradual loss of forest reserves in the state.
“All these come with serious negative7 setbacks on government’s efforts to achieve environmental sustainability and the provision of sustainable means of livelihoods for most of the populations.
“This made it imperative for us prioritize the pursuit of policy initiatives and interventions that would protect the environment together with its flora and fauna.
“For several decades, gully erosion has been a persistent environmental challenge to Danmasara, Kalgo and Yalwawa communities destroying farmlands, access roads, residential areas, peoples’ means of livelihoods and endangering the lives and other public and private properties.
“In fulfilment of our commitments, dealing with this age-long environmental problem becomes a priority”.
Namadi explained that the project would involve the construction of about seven kilometres of U-Shaped gravity-driven drainage structures, dozens of culverts of various dimensions with connecting roads over them, and additional re-enforced concrete structures sideways to ensure lasting resilience.
He stressed that the when completed, the project would reclaim 400 hectares of land along the gully corridor, mitigate future occurrence of gully erosion in the area, and significantly contribute to the restoration of sustainable means of livelihoods for thousands of households living within the affected areas.
Two companies, Alren Construction Company and Retercha Company Limited will execute the project.
According to him, the total amount for the project include over N189.94 million to be paid as compensation to 479 individuals affected by the project.
“This will include compensation for lands, economic trees and crops, as well as for temporary and permanent resettlement including inconveniences and livelihood restoration,” said the governor.
