Kaduna’s Uba Sani unveils N34bn project to end 30-year Rigasa erosion crisis

Uba Sani, the executive governor of Kaduna State, has unveiled a N34 billion intervention project aimed at ending the decades-long gully erosion and environmental degradation affecting Rigasa and neighbouring communities in Kaduna South and Igabi Local Government Areas of Kaduna State.

The project, which will be executed through the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, is expected to reclaim degraded land, control erosion, restore livelihoods, and improve environmental safety across a 17-kilometre corridor serving more than two million residents and businesses.

Speaking after inspecting the site today, the governor described the erosion as a major environmental challenge that had persisted for over three decades, resulting in loss of lives, destruction of property, and severe disruption of livelihoods.

“This intervention is more than an environmental project; it is a human development project. It is about protecting lives, preserving livelihoods, creating jobs and ensuring that every citizen can live and work in a safe and healthy environment,” Uba Sani said.

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The governor disclosed that funding for the project had already been secured, with groundbreaking expected within two weeks and completion scheduled within 18 months.

He further revealed that although over 1,200 households would be affected by the project, the state government had set aside more than ₦2 billion for compensation and resettlement support to ease the impact on affected residents.

According to him, the intervention demonstrates his administration’s commitment to addressing long-standing challenges that directly affect citizens’ welfare.

“The N34 billion investment demonstrates our administration’s commitment to addressing long-neglected challenges that directly affect the welfare of our citizens. We are determined to deliver lasting solutions, not temporary fixes,” he said.

The governor noted that beyond addressing environmental concerns, the project would create employment opportunities, stimulate economic activities and improve living conditions in the affected communities.

“For too long, erosion defined the future of these communities. Today, we are changing that narrative. We are reclaiming the land, restoring livelihoods, protecting lives and building a safer and more prosperous future for over two million people,” he added.

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Residents welcomed the development, describing it as a long-awaited solution to a problem that has devastated communities for nearly 30 years.

A community leader, Yusuf Wada Muhammad, said the erosion crisis had caused widespread hardship, destroying homes, farmlands and properties worth millions of naira while leaving many families vulnerable to further disasters.

“For nearly 30 years, our communities have lived with the devastating effects of gully erosion. We have lost lives, homes, farmlands and properties worth millions of naira, while many families have lived in constant fear of further destruction. Successive interventions fell short of addressing the scale of the problem,” he said.

Muhammad expressed optimism that the new intervention would finally provide a lasting solution, noting that the governor’s visit and commitment had restored hope among residents.

“Governor Uba Sani’s visit to the site and the unveiling of this intervention have given our people renewed hope that this long-standing challenge will finally be resolved,” he said.