By Dahiru Muhammad Hashim
We have read with dismay an article published by an online newspaper that the Kano State Government has spent zero naira on flooding and erosion control in the 2023 fiscal year and that “Kano has a history of spending poorly on erosion and flooding control”. I will highlight some interventions on flood and erosion control made by His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf within a frame of 9 months January to September.
The major cause of flooding and erosion in Kano is the blockage of waterways, especially within the metropolitan local governments (human activities), and poor drainage systems in major rural Local governments across the state. Knowing this fully well, the ACRESAL project of the Kano state government has conducted a pre-rainy season advocacy visit to all the 44 local governments of the state for sensitization and awareness creation on the consequences of human activities that aggravate the problems of erosion, that’s apart from the series of awareness programs approved by the government in different media stations and social media to sensitize people on the negative impacts of their activities on nature land, which I believed is the first step to prevent and control the occurrence of flood and erosion in the state.
Equally, the government has approved and initiated the mapping out of all watersheds, and erosion sites for inventory taking, vulnerability assessment, and prioritization of the erosion sites, this initiative has gone a long way in curtailing the problems of flooding which might have otherwise been terrific as well as erosion in the state.
So also the Initiative of clearing the blockage of waterways assigned by the Kano State government which has approved the exercise as carried out in the 8 metropolitan local governments of the state. Some of the major drainage routes that were cleared include Mumbayya House to the defunct Triumph Publishing House, Ahmadu Bello Way, Tarauni Market to Yar Fulani, Yahaya Gusau Rd in NNDC quarters, Gwarzo Road, Bilal Masjid to Darmawa and Sokoto road among several others.
The drainage clearance project has helped avert floods in the affected local government areas of Kano State.
To ensure the sustainability of this project, the Kano State Government empowered more than 30 community self-help groups (Kungiyoyin aikin gayya) with drainage clearance equipment such as wheelbarrows, rakes, head pans, hand gloves, spades, cutlasses, etc. These equipment were distributed to the groups so that they would be able to carry out proper drainage clearance in their communities and by so doing, prevented the occurrence of flooding in their respective communities.
The Kano State Government has also carried out the desilting of the Jakara-Kwarin Gogau River. This river cuts across various communities such as Jakara, Fagge, and Nomansland, and mostly contributes to floods due to filling with dirt and debris. By desilting the river, this year the areas have not experienced flooding as it used to happen every year.
When it comes to erosion control, The Government of Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf has embarked on 2 major erosion control sites in the state: Bulbula Gayawa in Nassarawa LGA and Rarin in Dawakin Tofa LGA. At Bulbula Gayawa, the state government through ACRESAL projects has concluded a baseline study and conducted a Resettlement Action Plan and Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) to ensure that all properties are adequately captured, and all individuals are fully compensated. With the approval of the Kano State Government under His Excellency Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, civil work will soon commence, and once the work has been completed, the communities of Bulbula Gayawa will return to their neighborhood and live peacefully without any more threat of flooding, erosion, or hoodlums hiding inside the gullies.
In Rarin Erosion Control Sites, relevant studies (baseline, RAP, and ESMP) have been conducted and the Kano State Government has commenced civil work to avert the effects of erosion in the community.
Erosion control works are currently in progress at Bachirawa Layin Maiunguwa in Dala Local Government and Rijiyar zaki Hauran Isyaku of Ungogo LGA respectively, the works have reached close completion level, apart from other sites where expert studies have been conducted and soon the civil works will begin, includes: Wailari erosion site, Sumaila Gala erosion work, Gurin gawa in kumbotso local government, Kabo erosion sites, Dawakin Kudu erosion site, and others.
To further ensure that desertification, (effect of erosion) is reduced, the Kano State Government has rehabilitated 2 shelterbelts totaling 2,200Ha in Yanbawa, Makoda LGA, and Ginzo, Bagwai LGA. These shelterbelts will serve as windbreakers thereby protecting soil from being carried away by winds. And by so doing, making the soil stronger and protecting it against erosion.
It is also worth mentioning that the restoration of degraded land is a form of erosion control mechanism, the restored land will no longer be exposed to direct sunlight and strong winds. Hence, the Kano State government has recently commended the restoration of 21,261Ha of degraded land in the State through various afforestation projects such as the rehabilitation of shelterbelts, the establishment of orchards, farmers-managed natural regeneration, and woodlot plantation. Therefore, these lands will be used for agricultural purposes, thereby protecting them against erosion.
Finally, the Kano state government has initiated and developed a climate change policy KCCP which will look at the peculiarities of Kano state, the activities that are leading to climate change, action plans, and enforcement strategies.
In conclusion, all these interventions on erosion and flood control were carried out by the administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf within one year of assuming office, under the Kano State Watersheds, Erosion and Climate Change Management Agency (KN-WECCMA) and Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and soon, there will be more interventions and projects geared toward the prevention of erosion and flood as His Excellency, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf is committed to ensuring that Kano State residents are protected from the devastating effects of flooding and erosion.
*Dr. Dahiru Muhammad Hashim is Senior Special Assistant on Climate Change Initiatives to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf