Uba Sani Flags Off Erosion Control Project, Pays N2bn Compensation

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Governor Uba Sani has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a comprehensive flood and gully erosion control project in Rigasa, where cheques totaling about N2 billion were distributed to 1,000 individuals whose houses will be affected by the project.

The project, which extends from Rigasa to Tudun Wada wards in Igabi and Kaduna South local governments, aims to combat the persistent flooding in the area, which has caused loss of lives and property over the past 40 years.

Speaking at the event, Governor Uba Sani revealed that the project will cost over N34 billion, noting that it is the first of its kind in northern Nigeria.

This government has promised that we will not demolish anyone’s property until we have paid adequate compensation. That is why we paid N2 billion in compensation today to about 1,000 people whose houses will be affected.

‘’As a government, we have promised that the common man will not be shortchanged in any way,’’ Governor Uba Sani stated.

He also shared that he has already paid over N5 billion in compensation, emphasizing that his government does not support the idea of demolishing properties to make way for projects without proper compensation.

Before constructing any road or starting any project, we pay compensation beforehand. We don’t want to destroy people’s livelihoods in the name of development,’’ he explained.

According to him, development is not just about building structures but also about ‘’protecting communities, restoring dignity, and securing the future of our people.’’

For many years, the residents of Rigasa and Tudun Wada have faced the harsh realities of flooding and gully erosion. Families have watched homes drown beneath rising waters and landscapes collapse.

Critical infrastructure has been damaged, farmlands destroyed, livelihoods disrupted, and dreams postponed. This intervention is therefore timely and transformative.

When completed, these flood and erosion control structures will significantly reduce risks from flooding and land degradation. They will safeguard homes and infrastructure, preserve economic assets, restore environmental stability, and provide greater security for communities that have long suffered from recurring disasters,’’ he added.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Buba, praised the governor for making strategic investments in vulnerable communities across Kaduna State to make them greener, safer, and more resilient.

He pointed out that the Rigasa/Tudun Wada intervention covers 17.8 km and that once finished, it will “improve environmental conditions, and enhance socio-economic well-being of over 500 residents within the corridor, putting the state among the leading sub-national governments in Nigeria in environmental sustainability.”