Kaduna pays N2bn compensation as Sani flags off N34bn erosion control project

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Governor Uba Sani on Friday flagged off a N34bn flood and gully erosion control project in Kaduna State, announcing the payment of about N2bn in compensation to no fewer than 1,000 residents whose property will be affected by the intervention.

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The project, which stretches across Rigasa in Igabi Local Government Area and Tudun Wada in Kaduna South Local Government Area, is expected to address perennial flooding and gully erosion that have claimed lives, destroyed homes and damaged infrastructure in the affected communities for over four decades.

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Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony in Rigasa, the governor said his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of citizens by ensuring that compensation was paid before any property was demolished for public projects.

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“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 N2bn today to about 1,000 people whose houses will be affected by the project.

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“As a government, we have promised that the common man will not be shortchanged in any manner,”Sani said.

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He disclosed that the project would cost over N34bn and described it as the first comprehensive flood and gully erosion control intervention of its scale in Northern Nigeria.

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The governor further revealed that his administration had paid more than N5bn in compensation to owners of properties affected by various government projects since assuming office.

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“Before constructing any road or embarking on any project, we 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 said.

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Sani stressed that development should go beyond physical infrastructure to include the protection of lives and livelihoods.

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He said,“Development is not merely about building structures; it is also about protecting communities, restoring dignity and securing the future of our people.

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“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.

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“Critical infrastructure has been damaged, farmlands destroyed, livelihoods disrupted and dreams delayed. This intervention is therefore not only timely; it is transformative.”

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According to the governor, the project will substantially reduce flooding and land degradation upon completion while protecting homes, public infrastructure and economic assets in the affected communities.

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He added that the intervention would restore environmental stability and provide lasting relief for residents who had lived under the constant threat of recurring floods.

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Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, commended the governor for making strategic investments aimed at protecting vulnerable communities from environmental hazards.

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He said the Rigasa-Tudun Wada erosion control project spans 17.8 kilometres and would significantly improve environmental conditions and the socio-economic well-being of residents living within the project corridor.

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According to him, the intervention will also position Kaduna among the leading states in Nigeria in the area of environmental sustainability.

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