Tambuwal flags off erosion control project in Sokoto.
By Onuminya Ochowechi , Sokoto.
The residents of Mabera , a metropolis of Sokoto in Sokoto South local government area of Sokoto State on Wednesday were in jubilation mood as the state governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal officially flagged off an underground erosion control project to bring lasting solution to the problem of erosion in the area.
The project “Mabera storm water management construction works” is being executed by the state government in collaboration with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (Newmap) an agency of World Bank in Nigeria.
Addressing the residents at scene of the project, Tambuwal reassured them of his administration commitment to embark on project that would alleviate the sufferings of the people and better their livelihood.
He thanked the residents for their patient stressing that the problem of the area did not start during his administration saying the problem is old as the settlement.
He stressed that successful administration came and gone without doing anything about the problem which he said was a nightmare to the area.
He stated that he took the bull by the horns by making series of consultations with different stakeholders including World Bank which later yielded fruit.
The project according to the Governor is.expected to be completed within Six months saying the state had already paid a counterpart fund to the tone of N1.33billion .
” I salute your patient till now though the erosion problem in this area did not start during this administration but during electioneering I promised to tackle the problem which we are fulfilling today he stated
In his welcome address the commissioner of environment Alhaji Sagir Bafarawa said Mabera storm water management works which we gathered to flag off today is an eight (8) years Project that was conceptualized by this present administration in collaboration with World Bank .
He furher disclosed that when completed it will reduce the vulnerability to soil erosion , floods and other complex environmental challenges that faced the area .
The commissioner averred that the Mabera storm water management works is one of the ten major sites that had undergone rigorous scrutiny and was cleared by World Bank.
He said the work consist 18.5KM drainage of different capacity that cut across Mabera Jelani, Mabera Iddi, Nakasarin Barebari , Nakasarin Magaji , Salame and trade Fair areas with aim of amending the constant flooding problems of the environment.
Sagir said the necessary appraisal of the resettlement action plan(RAP) has been completed and payment of compensation to the affected households is now in advance stage of completion.
Also speaking the Managing Director of Coberg-Uduc and Coberg LTD. a firm handling the project Architect Gilbson C promised to execute a quality work and also said the company would do it best to complete the work before the duration period.
