The Jigawa State government has revealed that it has dredged approximately 60 kilometers of the Hadejia River and constructed over 100 kilometers of embankments to control flooding in the state.
The Hadejia River, a northern Nigerian tributary of the Yobe River (Komadugu Yobe), has been a focus of these flood control efforts. Governor Umar Namadi shared this information during a discussion with journalists in Dutse on Wednesday.
The state government’s proactive measures to prevent flooding included the procurement of two amphibious excavators, with an additional two being deployed by the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HDRBDA) to facilitate the smooth execution of the project.
Governor Namadi added, “Aquatic weed removal tools have been procured and distributed to self-help groups in riverside communities across 13 local government areas for the removal of typhar grass and other weeds that blocked the free flow of water.”
Furthermore, in addition to flood control efforts, the government has provided fertilizer and improved seedlings to farmers at a 40 percent discount, aiming to support a bumper harvest this year.
According to statistics from the Jigawa Flood Control and Mitigation Committee, the 2022 flood affected 22 local government areas, submerging 1,554 villages and 138,422.36 hectares of farmland while claiming the lives of 130 individuals in the state.
It’s worth noting that dredging not only aids in flood control but also contributes to preserving wildlife, species, and ecosystems.
Dredging helps by removing debris, sludge, dead vegetation, and other obstructions, thereby keeping the water clean and supporting local wildlife ecosystems while addressing issues like eutrophication.