The Kaduna State Government has embarked on large-scale dredging and expansion of water channels in flood-prone communities across the state.
This followed early warnings issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), which listed Kaduna among states likely to experience heavy downpours, flash floods, and windstorms during the current rainy season.
Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment of ongoing dredging works at Ifira, along the Kaduna International Airport Road in Igabi Local Government Area on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abubakar Buba, said the state government had already identified high-risk areas for urgent intervention.
According to him, “this entire place was blocked before, but we have now opened up about 800 metres of the river. It will ease water flow and forestall disasters like we saw last year.”
“This road is a major route to the Kaduna International Airport. We cannot afford any disruption,” he added.
The commissioner assured residents that the Governor Uba Sani’s administration was committed to achieving a flood-free rainy season, but warned that such an outcome would also require the cooperation of the public.
“The government is doing its part, but citizens must stop turning drainage channels into refuse dumps. That practice undermines all our efforts,” he said.
Buba also disclosed that a mobile court had been set up under the Kaduna Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) to try offenders caught dumping waste into water channels.
“The days of impunity are over. Anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law,” he added.
The commissioner disclosed that the dredging operation was being supervised jointly by the Ministry of Environment, the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (KADSEMA), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), and other stakeholders.
He said other flood-prone locations penciled down for similar interventions include sections of Zaria, Kafanchan, and parts of the state capital.
At the bridge linking Kaduna metropolis to the airport — an area previously threatened by severe erosion, the Commissioner highlighted underscored the government’s determination to prevent a repeat of past disasters.
“We are doing everything humanly possible to avoid flood disasters this year,” he said.
Residents and stakeholders have begun to respond positively to the state government’s effort.
Manager of Sun-Agro Soya Oil Refining Company, Sanjay Sharma, located near the dredging site, the intervention couldn’t have come at a better time.
“Last year’s flooding was devastating. Many farmers lost their crops. This early intervention by the government is commendable,” Sharma said.
The Village Head of Ifira, Malam Balarabe Abubakar, also hailed the initiative, describing the dredging exercise as a “lifeline” for rural farmers whose livelihoods were at risk every rainy season.
“Our farmlands used to be washed away every year. This project will save our harvests,” the traditional ruler said.
Ikramat Mohammed, Chief Disaster Risk Reduction Officer of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), described Kaduna’s proactive approach to flood control as a model for other states to copy.
“This bridge is a critical asset. One of the best ways to manage disasters is to prevent them before they occur. What Kaduna is doing here is exemplary,” she said.