Bauchi Governor Launches N29.6bn World Bank Erosion and Flood Control Project

Segun Awofadeji in Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdukadir Mohammed, inaugurated a flood and erosion control project worth N29.69 billion. The initiative aims to protect the Bauchi metropolis from escalating gully erosion and storm‑water damage.

The project is part of the World Bank‑funded Agro‑Climatic Resilience in Semi‑Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) programme. It is designed to safeguard 213,000 people affected by the measures, which include stabilisation and channelisation from Tsohon Kampani to Gwallagan Mayaka in Bauchi Local Government Area.

Implementation is a joint effort by the federal government, the Bauchi State Government, and ACReSAL.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Mohammed announced that the state had already paid 40 percent of the contract sum to Triacta Nigeria Limited as mobilisation funds and that the full amount is ready for disbursement.

The governor urged the contractor to meet the schedule, stating, “There will be no excuse for delay.” He added, “This event is far more than the commencement of a construction project.”

He said the project “represents another bold milestone in our administration’s commitment to sustainable development, environmental protection, urban renewal, public health, economic growth, and the well‑being of our people.”

The governor noted that storm‑water pathways in the area have become erosion corridors up to 60 m wide and 50 m deep, destroying homes, farmlands, roads, and livelihoods.

He said the intervention is expected to restore 9,842 hectares of degraded land and protect more than 213,000 residents.

The project is described as a key component of the Bauchi Urban Renewal Project and Bauchi Project II, both aimed at modernising infrastructure and building climate‑resilient communities.

Mohammed emphasized the importance of community involvement in implementation and monitoring, saying, “Deepening stakeholding means ensuring that those you think are nothing are part and parcel of the project.”

Project Coordinator Dr. Ibrahim Kabir, speaking at the ceremony, reiterated that the ACReSAL project will protect 213,000 people along the corridor from Tsohon Kampani to Gwallagan Mayaka in Bauchi LGA.

He said, “This is the most difficult and challenging project we are executing, and you are breaking ground today. From the commencement of the actualisation, we were unable to trace any report or attempt of this project from previous governments. Your Excellency started all over from conceptualisation to implementation. What you are doing today changes lives, restores livelihoods, and adds value to over 213,000 residents.”

He added that community leaders were invited because the team has been engaging them since ACReSAL began in 2022, conducting the resettlement action plan, identifying vulnerable communities, and determining those affected by the project.

“These gentlemen by my side have been our mediators between ACReSAL and the beneficiaries. Over 213,000 people will benefit,” Kabir said. “Based on the RAP assessment, this is one of the biggest projects ever implemented by ACReSAL in Nigeria. The community leaders now form the side management committee. We know you are a principle of engaging communities to supervise their job ownership.”

ACReSAL National Project Coordinator Abdulhamid Umar, represented by Engr. Ugo O. Albert, called the groundbreaking a major step in addressing flooding, erosion, land degradation, and other climate threats facing vulnerable communities.

He said the project would safeguard lives, infrastructure, and the environment while supporting sustainable landscape management.

Umar commended Governor Mohammed’s support for ACReSAL and urged contractors and consultants to maintain high standards of quality, safety, and professionalism in line with approved designs and timelines.

The ceremony was also attended by officials from the federal ministries of Environment, Water Resources, and Agriculture, the World Bank, and traditional and community leaders.