Ecological Fund: Katsina spends N4.348bn to check flood, erosion challenges
AREWA AGENDA – Katsina State Government said it has spent over N4.348 billion in checking the menace of flood and erosion in 42 communities across the 34 Local Government Areas of the North Western 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 programmes 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 per cent 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 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 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 to include: 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 perimeter fence along the project corridors at Malumfashi and Funtua.
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Governor Masari explained that the project was executed to improve the security of human and animal lives, as well as enhance 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), government has affected payment of counterpart funds in the sum of N500 million.
“The Project, in September 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.
In a related development, the Kano State Ministry of Environment said it utilised ecological fund to construct drains and tarred roads to control erosion.
The Director Afforestation of the Ministry, Alhaji Abdulahmid Bello, who did not reveal the cost of the projects, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Ministry also established waste water treatment plant.
Bello also revealed plans by his Ministry to collaborate with Ecological Fund Office to establish 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 utilisation of ecological funds disbursed to the state, proved abortive.
Yusuf Muazu , the Director, Kaduna state Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, and Maimuna Zakari, General Manager, 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 utilised their ecological funds received from the Federal Government FG. NAN
