El-Rufai may end perennial flood in Kaduna – Gobroadsheet Assessment
(Photos 1&2 showing ongoing construction works while the 3rd is recently desilted Kaduna river at new Kigo extension axis. Photo credit to Gobroadsheet)
//Gobroadsheet Exclusives, Kaduna N/w Nigeria//
Kaduna State is one of Nigerian states that do record loss of lives, farm produce and property resulting from flood on annual basis.
Though, the flood has been attributed to many cousal agents like opening of dams from neighbouring countries, excessive rainfall, errection of structures on water ways and blockade of water channels, colvet, late desilting of minor rivers and drains.
Of recent, the Kaduna State government under Governor Nasir El-Rufai seems committed to eradicating this loss or at least, bring it to its knees through strategic efforts the Kaduna city has not witnessed for a long time.
The first step towards achieving this was the introduction of a key waste management company called Zoom Lion Global Alliance to manage the tons of waste generated on a daily basis in Kaduna, Kafanchan and Zaria and to see how same can be transformed into wealth.
This, environmental analysts believed will go a long way at clearing debris of dirt hitherto litre the town, causing outbreak of diseases and blocking water passages. These towns are now making progress in waste management.
Also of recent, the state government approved the desilting of Kaduna rivers at the cost of #50 million (Gobroadsheet exclusively gathered) and it has since been completed. It cuts across Malali, Kigo, Tudun Wada in Kaduna North Local Government area and terminated at Nassarawa, Kakuri, Kaduna South Local Government area of the state. All linked to River Kaduna.
Now, in order to effectively ensure free flow of water against next raining season, there is ongoing massive evacuation of old drains and construction of new ones in Kaduna championed by Kaduna State Public Work Agency (KAPWA).
In some of the areas toured by Gobroadsheet team like Juji road, Sabon Tasha, Alima, Ungwan Rimi, Romi, Yakowa road, Kigo, Kakuri, Kawo, Bakin Dogo, Tudun wada, Ahmadu Bello to mention but a few are in the process of wearing a new look.
However, most of the residents interview seeing the assessment tour said they were happy with the development. They said they are not sure whether the roads too would be constructed in areas like Juji, Jaruwa, Romi, New Millennium City among others but optimistic, that flood would have been taken care of if the drains works are completed before the next raining season.
Speaking exclusively to Gobroadsheet, Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Alhaji Shehu Balarabe Giwa said, the state government under El-Rufai is committed to providing avenue for people resident in the state to live a life free of fear each time it rains and make them productive in their respective callings.
According to him, the state government is placing high priority on its environment as evident in diverse developmental projects that are ongoing simultaneously with the hope to help build a safer, greener and cleaner environment where people can attain greatness.
The commissioner further reiterated that, his ministry among others, has been executing a lot of transformational programmes and projects in tandem with the provision of change mantra of governing All Progressives Congress (APC) and vision of his principal.
“Kaduna state is very lucky to have a leader like Governor Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai at its helm of affairs. The governor is ever ready to key into programmes and initiatives that will touch the lives of his people positively.
“If you move around Kaduna now within the past 18 months or thereabout, you will see the presence of state government everywhere.
“In our ministry, we have now make the cleaner and saver Kaduna environment as our top priority. We are cleaning, desilting, clearing, planting and all that. We are doing all that at very effective budget line.
“The ongoing massive evacuation of drains and construction of new ones by KAPWA is an extension of efforts of the state government to make Kaduna free of flood this year. Some of these drains are there blocked because of inadequate maintenance over the years.
“All that is required is for the good people of our dear state to key in and join us to collectively move the state forward in this 2017 and beyond. We can do this by carefully containing our refuse in polythene or sacks, clearing our drains regularly and maintain general hygiene so we can have healthier populace”, he said.
While government is trying to make the environment saver, residents and corporate organizations are expected to play their own role by doing what they could to augument government’s. Everyone must imbibe the culture of what if this is mine mentality by a way of clearing and cleaning their immediate environment, fix where they can bursted water pipes and protect public and private facilities around. They should know that whatever they do or fail to do will first of all touch them before touching top government functionaries. Saver and saver environment is poossible and it begins with individual.