Katsina State Government spent over N4.348 billion in checking the menace of flood and erosion in 42 communities across the 34 Local Government Areas of the state.
State governor, Malam Aminu Masari, who stated this during the review of his administration’s achievement in 2022, said such efforts would be sustained to ensure a friendly environment.
“During the year 2022 and in line with our resolve to implement phased programs for the control of flood and erosion, the multi-year phase V projects are being carried out in 42 communities, and have successfully attained 75 percent completion stage.
“The total cost of all the interventions under Phase V is over N4.348 billion.
“These and other interventions in the previous phases, which include the urban drains constructed under the NEWMAP in Katsina, Funtua, Malumfashi, and Jibia towns, have significantly reduced to a minimum, incidences of flooding across the state.
“Some of the phase V projects which have been completed include the construction of drains, vehicular/pedestrian access culverts, and laterite fillings at Dungun Muazu and Sabuwa towns in Sabuwa LGA, at the cost of over N160 million,” he said.
He gave a breakdown of the amount spent to address ecological problems in some towns as Kabomo in Bakori LGA, N102 million; Mabai in Kankara LGA, N71 million; Unguwar Samari Kafur in Kafur LGA, N105million, and Karadua in Matazu LGA, 106 Million.
He said others were Bilbis in Faskari LGA, N112million; Dabai in Danja LGA, N156 million; Rogogon Gabas in Zango LGA, N71million; Kongolom in Mai’adua LGA, N77 million, and Tunas in Ingawa LGA, N65million.
Masari listed more towns including Yamel in Dutsi LGA, N77 million; Runka in Safana LGA, N62 million; Rawayau in Kurfi LGA N64 million; Rimi Town in Rimi LGA, N51 million; and a portion behind KTARDA Quarters in Dutsinma town of Dutsinma LGA, N121million.
He said that under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in Katsina State, the sum of N189.2 million was expended on the erection of a perimeter fence along the project corridors at Malumfashi and Funtua.
Gov. Masari explained that the project was executed to improve the security of human and animal lives, as well as enhance the safety and effectiveness of the drains.
“In preparation for the take-off of the World Bank-assisted Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL), the State Government paid the mandatory expression of interest counterpart funds in the sum of over N1 billion.
“Our vision under this intervention is to have our priority projects (Katsina Phase II, Jibia Phase II, and other water conservation schemes) which we have already made designs for implementation.
“With the coming into effect of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), the government has affected payment of counterpart funds in the sum of N500 million.
“The Project, in Sept. 2022, commenced the construction of 24.5 kilometers Danja to Bazanga to Nahuce, with a spur from Bazanga to Kokami Demonstration road in Danja LGA at the contract sum of over N2.41 billion, with a completion period of 18 months,” the governor said.
He stated that the state government had sustained collaboration with the Great Green Wall Agency’s “Greening Efforts” towards halting deforestation by 2030, in conformity with the Glasgow 2021 commitment.
Also in Kano State, the State Ministry for Environment said it utilized ecological funds to construct drains and tarred roads to control erosion.
The Director of Afforestation, Kano State Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Abdulahmid Bello, who did not reveal the cost of the projects, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the ministry also established a wastewater treatment plant.
Bello also revealed plans by his ministry to collaborate with Ecological Fund Office to establish an integrated industrial waste management facility at Chalawa, Sharada, and Bompai estates.
He said measures were being taken to check the menace of erosion in Rarin Karas and Danguguwa in Dawakin Tofa LGA.
In Kaduna, efforts by NAN to secure the input of the authorities on the utilization of ecological funds disbursed to the state proved abortive.
Mr. Yusuf Muazu, the Director, of the Kaduna state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and Maimuna Zakari, General Manager, of the Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority, declined comment when pressed by NAN to make input.
Responses were requested from the three states of Katsina, Kano, and Kaduna to form input into a survey conducted by NAN on how the states utilized their ecological funds received from the Federal Government.
