By Kabir Dan-Katsina, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State Government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has awarded contract work for the control of a gully erosion along Badariya-Dukku-Malala areas within Birnin Kebbi metropolis.
This was revealed to jiurnalists on Tuesday by the state Commissioner for Environment, Musa Muhammad Tungulawa during a news briefing held at his office in Birnin Kebbi.
Tungulawa further announced that the project which was in two segment of Lot one and two additional sites erosion controls, abandoned by the previous administrations would be executed by the Ministry for Environment in collaboration with the office of Kebbi AcResal supported by the World Bank.
The Commissioner noted that if the project is completed, more than 50,000 people will benefit in the affected communities in the areas.
The commissioner also said that the contract which was awarded to A. G. Vision Construction Nigeria Limited will commence in earnest, representung major relief and significant milestone in the protection of lives and restoration of degraded lands, reclaim lost productive areas and safeguard livelihoods in the areas.
Tungulawa, however, noted that the spate of the work will also check the expansion of gullies, flooding and soil degradation which, over the years, affected houses, farmlands, roads and other structures around the Birnin Kebbi-Dukku-Malala areas.
According to him, the project is expected to be completed within 15 months, and would control the water flow and give rice farmers in the areas an opportunity for irrigation, fish and livestock farming.
He also highlighted that Governor Nasir Idris is expected to flag-off the project work and later on, an assessment on the affected houses, farmlands and other structures would be conducted by government for compensation.
He commended Governor Idris for the project and appealed to people of the areas to cooperate with both government officials and the constructing firm both during and after the project.
