Kebbi State government, in collaboration with the World Bank, has concluded arrangements to protect about 50,000 residents from the dangers of gully erosion in Birnin Kebbi-Dukku-Malala areas of Birnin Kebbi local government area.
Already, the contract for the project has been awarded by the government.
Briefing newsmen on the development, the commissioner for Environment, Musa Tungulawa, said that the project, which is in two segments of Lot 1and 2 additional sites erosion controls, abandoned by the previous administrations, will be executed by the Ministry for Environment in collaboration with the Office of Kebbi AcResal, supported by the World Bank.
The commissioner said when completed,over 50,000 people in the affected communities would benefit from it.
The commissioner also said that the contract, which was awarded to A. G. Vision Construction Nigeria Limited, will commence in earnest and represents major relief and a significant milestone in the protection of lives, the restoration of degraded lands, the reclamation of lost productive areas and the safeguarding of livelihoods in the areas.
Tungulawa, however, noted that the scope of the work would also include assessing the expansion of gullies, flooding, and soil degradation, which, over the years, have affected houses, farmlands, roads, and other structures in the Birnin Kebbi-Dukku-Malala areas.
According to the Commissioner, the project is expected to be completed within 15 months and will control water flow and provide rice farmers in the area with opportunities for irrigation, fish farming, and livestock farming.
He also highlighted that Governor Nasir Idris is expected to flag off the project work, and later, an assessment of the affected houses, farmlands, and other structures would be conducted by government officials for compensation.
He commended Governor Idris for the project and appealed to the people of the areas to cooperate with both government officials and the construction firm during and after the project.
