In a bid to find lasting solution to issues of severe gully erosion affecting parts of Kano State, the state governor, Abba Yusuf, has announced a deliberate partnership with the World Bank and the Federal Government to implement a large-scale erosion control project in the Gayawa area.
He similarly expressed his government’s commitment to addressing the environmental hazards that have bedevilled the Bulbula-Gayawa community in Ungoggo Local Government Area.
Governor Yusuf recently visited the Gayawa gully erosion site and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling the environmental risks that have afflicted the Bulbula-Gayawa community in Ungoggo LGA. These risks also affect the neighbouring Nasarawa and Fagge LGAs.
“This visit marks a new chapter in the journey toward resolving the persistent environmental challenges that have burdened this community for decades,” Yusuf stated. “The devastating effects of gully erosion have not only taken lives but have also brought untold hardship, from the tragic loss of farmlands to the daily dangers faced by children as they travel to school.”
According to Governor Yusuf, the State Ministry of Environment oversaw the Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) program, which was partnered with the World Bank to solve the erosion situation in Bulbula-Gayawa. He emphasized the scope of the project saying, “This erosion control project has finished its groundwork, but it will cost billions of naira to implement.”
Along with highlighting steps to rehabilitate over 21,261 hectares of damaged land and establish new woodlot plantings, the governor also highlighted the administration’s efforts to stop unlawful sand mining, which he called a “significant threat” to the environment.
“The state government has taken significant steps to halt indiscriminate sand mining and has embarked on extensive land restoration projects, including shelterbelt rehabilitation at Yanbawa and Sabongarin Ginzo,” he noted. “Beyond controlling erosion, we are implementing community support programs to revive livelihoods and rebuild what has been lost.”
He reassured them that skill-building projects and agricultural input programs are part of the state’s overall environmental plan, which aims to support sustainable living. “We’re determined not to let any neighbourhood fall behind.
Responding to the governor, the village head of Zango, Malam Hamza Jibrin Nuhu, thanked him for visiting their community, revealing that the governor is the first and only governor to visit this gully erosion site. “His concern for our community is deeply appreciated,” Malam Nuhu stated.
Nuhu also prayed for the governor’s success and endorsed the administration’s commitment to addressing the community’s needs.
