Kaduna State Government has initiated a significant 4,000-meter dredging project along River Kaduna to enhance its capacity and mitigate persistent flooding across the state, starting on Friday.
According to Mrs. Linda Yakubu, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the dredging targets flood-prone zones, including Barnawa and the Living Faith axis.
"This initiative will cover critical areas to prevent flooding and protect communities," Yakubu stated.
To support this effort, Governor Uba Sani approved the acquisition of a swamp buggy, which Yakubu noted was launched earlier this year as the state's first self-funded flood-control measure.
"The swamp buggy enables us to clear waterways and safeguard homes and investments," she explained, referencing a similar successful dredging operation completed in June near Airport Road, Kutungari.
Yakubu emphasized that the project includes clearing tributaries feeding into River Kaduna to boost its flow capacity.
She also urged residents to refrain from dumping waste in waterways, warning, "Mobile courts will penalize violators when monthly sanitation resumes in October."
Assistant Chief Disaster Risk Reduction Officer at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Ikramat Muazu, praised the dredging as a crucial preventive step.
"Proactive measures like this are cost-effective and save lives compared to emergency responses," Muazu said, pledging NEMA's continued partnership with the state to enhance flood resilience.
Mr. Michael Balai-Ibrahim from the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) highlighted the swamp buggy's role in removing sandbars and debris to ensure smoother water flow.
"Regular maintenance of waterways is vital to sustain these efforts," he noted, affirming NIWA's commitment to providing technical support and enforcing regulations against harmful practices like waste dumping.
Assistant Director at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Rahama Suleiman, added that community engagement efforts, including townhall meetings and awareness campaigns, are underway across Kaduna's 23 Local Government Areas.
"We're mobilizing residents to support the government's efforts, especially with the heavy flooding predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency this year," Suleiman said.