Kaduna State governor, Uba Sani, has flagged off a N34 billion flood and gully erosion control project in Rigasa, alongside the payment of about N2 billion in compensation to nearly 1,000 residents whose properties will be affected by the intervention.
The project, which stretches from Rigasa to Tudun Wada wards across Igabi and Kaduna South Local Government Areas, is designed to tackle decades of devastating flooding and gully erosion that have claimed lives and destroyed property in the area for more than 40 years.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony, Governor Sani said the project is the first of its scale in Northern Nigeria and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that affected residents are adequately compensated before any demolition takes place.
“This government has promised that we will not demolish anyone’s property until we have paid adequate compensation. That is why we paid compensation worth N2 billion today to about 1,000 people whose houses will be affected by the project,” the governor said.
“As a government, we have promised that the common man will not be shortchanged in any manner.”
Sani disclosed that his administration has so far paid more than N5 billion in compensation for various development projects across the state, stressing that the government does not subscribe to demolishing people’s properties with little or no compensation.
“Before constructing any road or embarking on any project, we do pay compensation even before starting the project. We don’t want to destroy people’s livelihoods in a bid to bring development to them,” he said.
According to the governor, development goes beyond physical infrastructure and must also focus on protecting communities, restoring dignity and securing the future of citizens.
“For many years, the people of Rigasa and Tudun Wada have borne the painful consequences of flooding and gully erosion. Families have watched homes disappear beneath advancing waters and collapsing landscapes.
“Critical infrastructure has been damaged, farmlands destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and dreams delayed. This intervention is therefore not only timely; it is transformative.
“Upon completion, these flood and gully erosion control structures will substantially reduce the risks associated with flooding and land degradation. They will protect homes and public infrastructure, preserve economic assets, restore environmental stability and provide greater security for communities that have long lived under the shadow of recurring disaster,” he said.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, commended the governor for making strategic investments in vulnerable communities across Kaduna State aimed at making them greener, safer and more resilient.
Buba said the Rigasa-Tudun Wada intervention covers a total distance of 17.8 kilometres and, when completed, would significantly improve environmental conditions and enhance the socio-economic well-being of residents within the corridor.
According to him, the project will position Kaduna among Nigeria’s leading sub-national governments in environmental sustainability while strengthening the resilience of communities vulnerable to flooding and erosion.
