The administration of Abba Kabir Yusuf, governor of Kano State, has commenced the construction of multi-billion erosion control project in Bulbula and Gayawa communities in the state, following the disbursement of the sum of N600 million, as compensation to owners of the land that will be affected by the project.
The disbursement is being done through the Kano State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (Kano-ACReSAL) programme being implemented by the state Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
The presentation of cheques to the affected land owners, took place at the Coronation Hall, Government House, Kano, Thursday.
The scope of the project entails the construction of reinforced concrete channels, bioremediation buffers, and other robust erosion control infrastructure, and it is designed to reclaim degraded land and restore safety to the affected areas.
The project is being executed by the state in collaboration, with the Federal Government, with funding support coming from the World Bank, and on completion it is expected to strengthen surveillance through the engagement of community vigilantes and the installation of solar streetlights to deter criminal activity that had previously thrived in the abandoned gully area.
Speaking while, before the presentation of cheques to the land owners, Governor Abba said that the project is being implemented under the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for the Bulbula-Gayawa Erosion Control Project in Nasarawa and Ungogo Local Government Areas.”
The governor urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the funds, emphasizing that every cheque presented contained a message that “the government of Abba Gida-Gida stands with its people, especially during times of hardship and displacement.”
“The compensation being disbursed today is based on thorough enumeration, community engagement, and due diligence. Our approach ensures that every affected citizen is recognized, documented, and fairly treated in accordance with global best practices.
Governor Yusuf noted that the Bulbula-Gayawa erosion menace has brought untold hardship to many. It has claimed farmlands, damaged homes, displaced families, and turned once-thriving neighbourhoods into unsafe zones.”
The governor pledged his administration’s continued support throughout the project’s lifecycle, reiterating that no community would be left behind in the development process.
Governor Yusuf expressed his appreciation to the implementation team under the ACReSAL Project, traditional rulers, community representatives, and relevant stakeholders for their transparency, professionalism, and relentless efforts in ensuring the successful compensation exercise.
In his address earlier, Dahiru M Hashim, Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change and chairman, Steering Committee, Kano State Project Coordinator ACReSAL, affirmed that the present administration under Governor Yusuf is committed to addressing the erosion problems devastating communities across the state.
The commissioner commended the World Bank, the federal government, and the state government for providing sufficient funds to compensate the affected people.
Some beneficiaries, Jibril Abdullahi Jibril and Fatima Haruna, expressed their gratitude to the state government for the intervention. They recalled years of advocating for the project, which had been unsuccessful until the present administration took action.
