The Federal Government has flagged off a Drainage and Erosion Control Project in Jahun Local Government Area of Jigawa State, marking a major intervention to address decades of flooding and land degradation while unlocking agricultural potential in the area.
The project, inaugurated on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, is aimed at curbing perennial erosion and flooding that have displaced residents, destroyed farmlands, and threatened lives and property in Jahun and neighbouring communities.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, said the intervention represents a decisive response to a long-standing environmental and socio-economic challenge.
He noted that the project, being executed under the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), would not only provide flood protection but also promote sustainable water management and agricultural productivity.
“For decades, this community has endured the devastating effects of erosion and flooding. Today, I am pleased to say that this long-standing problem is being decisively addressed through the intervention of the Federal Government,” Utsev said in a statement signed by the ministry’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mrs Funmi Imuetinyan.
The minister explained that water which previously caused destruction would now be productively harnessed for irrigation, enabling year-round farming, stable food production, and improved livelihoods. He added that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on food security, economic growth, and climate-resilient infrastructure.
Utsev urged the host community to take ownership of the project, ensure its proper utilisation, and safeguard it for future generations, stressing that sustainable management is key to long-term benefits.
Representing the Governor of Jigawa State, the Deputy Governor, Engr. Aminu Usman Gumel, commended the Federal Government for the intervention, describing it as a timely solution to the area’s recurring flood challenges. He said the project would improve living conditions, stimulate the local economy, and include youth training in drip irrigation, which would enhance skills and employment opportunities.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of the HJRBDA, Rabiu Suleiman Bichi, said the project reflects the Tinubu administration’s holistic approach to modern irrigation and water infrastructure development. He called on beneficiaries to embrace the initiative and ensure its sustainability.
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The Chairman of Jahun Local Government Area, Hon. Jamilu Dan Mallah, delivered a welcome address at the event, which drew senior government officials, ministry directors, traditional rulers, community leaders, women, youths, and other stakeholders.
Highlights of the ceremony included the graduation of youths trained in drip irrigation on rehabilitated farmlands, underscoring the project’s dual focus on environmental protection and human capacity development.
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