The Ecological Fund Office has embarked on erosion control projects in eleven communities across Daura town and environs in Katsina State where several hectares of farmland and residential area have been eaten up by soil erosion.
Leading a technical team from the Ecological Fund Office on a sensitization visit to the palace of the Emir of Daura, the Permanent Secretary at the office, Dr. Habiba Lawal, said the erosion control project in Daura was part of several land reclamation projects embarked upon by the office across the country.
The Permanent Secretary, represented by the Deputy Director Public Relations Unit at the office, Dr. Joel Oruche, said the sensitization meeting was convened to chart a common front with leaders of the affected communities to facilitate smooth take-off of the project.
He urged the communities to take ownership of the project and monitor the contracting firm to ensure quality work.
Dr. Oruche said “the eroded ditch has a total length of 8,432 meters and it was caused by flood during the rainy season, the ditch could eat up more agricultural and residential land if not for this timely intervention.”
“As part of this sensitization visit we will officially hand over the affected sites to the contracting firm that will handle the project.
“We hereby call on the affected communities to please cooperate with the contractor, be our eyes and ears, and monitor what the contractor is doing to ensure that we get value for money”, Dr. Oruche said.
Officials from the ecological fund office also met with leaders and other stakeholders from the affected communities, preparatory to the commencement of the project.
The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruk Umar, who spoke on behalf of the affected communities, expressed appreciation to the federal government for the quick intervention, and called on the contracting firm to ensure qualitative work and timely completion as specified in the contract terms.
On his part, the representative of the contracting firm, Mr. Mike Jing, assured the Emir and other community leaders of an efficient job.
The project is scheduled to be completed within sixteen months.
Isma’il Adamu