ACReSAL expands ongoing Mokwa gully project to prevent flood reoccurrence

ACReSAL expands ongoing Mokwa gully project to prevent flood reoccurrenc

By Aideloje Ojo

Minna

The Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi Arid Landscapes Project (ACReSAL) will expand its ongoing gully erosion control project in Mokwa town of Niger state to accommodate works aimed at preventing reoccurrence of floods in the area.

The Task Team Leader on ACreSal projects from World Bank  Mrs Iganya Joy Agane, stated this during the visit of her team to sympathise with the victims of the recent Mokwa flood disaster and to assess the extent of damage done by the disaster.

She said, “Firstly we would want to sympathise with the government and people of Niger state over the flood disaster which occurred in Mokwa about two weeks ago. We come here to see the devastation done by the flood. As part of the ACReSAL project we have actually approved the design of the gully erossion control around here before the flash flood happened. So we have come to see whether the design is still adequate”.

According to her, “From our assessment we can say that the design currently will need to be expanded to be able to take a more management holistic approach. Although we are still putting our findings together but the recommendation we have on the ground is to do a reassessment and redesign to be able to accommodate a wider basin catchment management approach to provide permanent solution to prevent reoccurrence of flood disaster in the area “, adding that once the report is ready, it would be shared with the state government.

In a remark, the Commissioner of Agriculture Honourable Musa Salihu Bosso explained that Niger state government has provided all the necessary support and counterpart funds for the actualisation of the ACReSAl project in Niger state.

He commended ACReSAL for its intervention projects in the state adding that the state government is very much committed to providing permanent solution to the Mokwa flood and the gully erosions challenges.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary Niger State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Dr Abubakar Sadiq Musa  emphasized the need to identify the root cause of the Mokwa flood disaster in order  to prevent future occurrence while describing ACReSAL intervention project in the area as laudable.