The Kaduna State Government on Friday, commenced the dredging of 4,000 metres of River Kaduna to expand its capacity and prevent perennial flooding in the state.
The exercise targets flood-prone areas, including Barnawa and the Living Faith axis, and forms part of ongoing efforts to protect residents and property from seasonal inundation.
Speaking on the initiative, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs. Linda Yakubu, said, “This measure is aimed at preventing displacement of residents and destruction of property.”
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She noted that the swamp buggy used for the dredging was inaugurated earlier this year as the state’s first independent flood-control intervention.
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She also highlighted that a similar dredging exercise around Airport Road, Kutungari, was completed in June to ease water flow.
“Tributaries emptying into River Kaduna will also be cleared. Our long-term goal is to improve the river’s carrying capacity,” Yakubu stated.
She further cautioned residents against dumping refuse into waterways, warning, “Mobile courts will sanction offenders when monthly sanitation resumes in October.”
Mrs. Ikramat Muazu, Assistant Chief Disaster Risk Reduction Officer at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), emphasized the importance of proactive measures.
“Preventive actions such as dredging are cheaper and safer than emergency responses,” she said, adding, “These steps will save lives and reduce government spending on relief measures.”
Mr. Michael Balai-Ibrahim of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) said, “The swamp buggy will help remove sandbars and debris, ensuring smooth water flow and reducing flood risks.”
He pledged, “NIWA will continue to regulate river users and enforce safety measures to prevent dumping of refuse and other harmful practices.”
Similarly, Mrs. Rahama Suleiman, Assistant Director at the National Orientation Agency (NOA), urged public cooperation: “Residents must align with the government’s efforts to avert the heavy flooding predicted this year by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.”
