From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has approved a ₦34 billion intervention to address decades-long gully erosion and environmental degradation threatening Rigasa and neighboring communities in Kaduna South and Igabi Local Government Areas.
The project, to be carried out by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, will span a 17-kilometer corridor. According to the Governor, it aims to reclaim degraded land, control erosion, restore livelihoods, and improve environmental safety for more than two million residents and businesses within the affected area.
After inspecting the site, Governor Uba Sani described the erosion as a crisis that has lasted over 30 years, claiming lives, destroying property, and undermining livelihoods. “This intervention is more than an environmental project; it is a human development project. It is about protecting lives, preserving livelihoods, creating jobs, and ensuring that every citizen can live and work in a safe and healthy environment,” he said.
The Governor revealed that funding has already been secured, with groundbreaking expected within two weeks and the project scheduled for completion in 18 months. He acknowledged that more than 1,200 households will be affected by construction but stated that the government has allocated over ₦2 billion for compensation and resettlement support to mitigate the impact.
“This ₦34 billion investment demonstrates our administration’s commitment to tackling long-neglected challenges that directly affect the welfare of our citizens. We are committed to delivering lasting solutions, not temporary fixes,” Governor Uba Sani stated. He added that the project would create jobs and boost economic activities along the corridor.
“For too long, erosion defined the future of these communities. Today, we are changing that story. We are reclaiming the land, restoring livelihoods, protecting lives, and building a safer, more prosperous future for over two million people,” he added.
Residents welcomed the announcement as a long-awaited solution. Community leader Yusuf Wada Muhammad said the erosion had caused severe hardship for nearly 30 years, destroying homes, farmlands, and properties worth millions of naira, while leaving families in constant fear. “Successive interventions fell short of addressing the scale of the problem,” he noted.
He also said that the Governor’s visit and the unveiling of the project have renewed hope. “Governor Uba Sani’s visit to the site and the unveiling of this intervention have given our people renewed confidence that this long-standing challenge will finally be resolved,” Wada Muhammad said.
