N34bn erosion control: Uba Sani pays N2bn compensation for 1,000 houses

Governor Uba Sani has officially launched a comprehensive flood and gully erosion control project in Rigasa. As part of this initiative, cheques totaling approximately N2 billion were distributed to 1,000 individuals whose homes will be affected by the project.

The project spans from Rigasa to Tudun Wada wards in the Igabi and Kaduna South local governments. It aims to address the chronic flooding issues in the area, which has led to the loss of lives and property over the past 40 years.

During the event, Governor Uba Sani announced that the total cost of the project is estimated to exceed N34 billion, emphasising that this scope of work is the first of its kind in northern Nigeria.

‘’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.

‘’As a Government, we have promised that the common man will not be short-changed in any manner,’’ Governor Uba Sani vowed.

The Governor disclosed that he has so far paid over N5 billion in compensation because his government does not subscribe to the notion of pulling down properties to pave the way for projects, with little or no compensation.

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‘’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 argued.

According to him, development is not merely about building structures but is also about ‘’protecting communities, restoring dignity and securing the future of our people.’’

‘’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 have 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 risk 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 shadows of recurring disaster,’’ he added.

Earlier, the Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Alhaji Abubakar Buba, commended the Governor for making strategic investments in vulnerable communities across Kaduna State, to make them greener, safer and more resilient.

He noted that the Rigasa /Tudun Wada intervention spans a total of 17.8 km, adding that when completed, it will “improve environmental conditions, and enhance the socio economic well-being of over 500 residents within the corridor, putting the state on the pedestal as one of the leading sub-national governments in Nigeria in the area of environmental sustainability.’’