The Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has officially flagged off a ₦34 billion flood and gully erosion control project covering the Rigasa and Tudun Wada communities, alongside the payment of about ₦2 billion in compensation to nearly one thousand residents whose properties will be affected by the project.
The intervention, which stretches from Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Area to Tudun Wada in Kaduna South Local Government, is aimed at tackling decades of severe flooding and gully erosion that have claimed lives, destroyed homes, and disrupted economic activities in the affected communities for over 40 years.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Sani described the project as the first of its kind in Northern Nigeria, saying it demonstrated his administration’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and the environment. He noted that the Kaduna State Government deliberately ensured that compensation was paid before construction began to prevent residents from being unfairly displaced.
According to the Governor, about ₦2bn has been disbursed to nearly one thousand affected residents, fulfilling the government’s pledge that no property would be demolished without adequate compensation. He added that Kaduna State has so far paid more than ₦5bn in compensation for various development projects across the state.
Sani stressed that development should not come at the expense of citizens’ livelihoods, explaining that compensation remains a prerequisite for infrastructure projects undertaken by his administration.
He described the flood control initiative as more than an infrastructure project, saying it is a major investment in the safety, dignity, and future of residents who have suffered the devastating effects of flooding and erosion for decades.
Upon completion, the project is expected to significantly reduce flooding and land degradation, protect critical infrastructure and economic assets, and restore environmental stability across the affected communities.
In his address, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, praised the governor for prioritising environmental sustainability through strategic investments in vulnerable communities.
Buba disclosed that the 17.8-kilometre Rigasa–Tudun Wada project will improve environmental conditions and enhance the socio-economic well-being of residents living along the corridor.
The commissioner added that the initiative will further strengthen Kaduna State’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading sub-national governments in environmental sustainability.
The post Kaduna Begins ₦34bn Flood Control Project In Rigasa, Pays ₦2bn Compensation To Affected Residents appeared first on Channels Television.
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