en.Wedoany.com Reported - Jigawa State has distributed river channel cleaning and environmental management equipment to 15 community organizations in the Oyo Local Government Area, aiming to reduce flood risks, protect livelihoods, and improve water flow through community-led initiatives. The distribution, implemented on Saturday by the Jigawa State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, targets communities along the corridors of the Hadejia, Oyo, and Komadugu rivers, stretching from the Ringim Local Government Area to the border region connecting Jigawa State with Yobe State.
Governor Umar Namadi stated at the launch event in Oyo that the government alone cannot address the challenges posed by environmental degradation and recurrent flooding. The National Emergency Management Agency recently confirmed that over 148 communities across 17 local government areas in Jigawa State face high flood risks during the 2026 rainy season. According to the Jigawa State Government, the distributed equipment includes 25 boats, over 10,000 sacks, 500 spades, 500 shovels, 200 axes, 1,000 machetes, 500 rakes, 300 hoes, and 100 plows, intended for river channel cleaning and sanitation operations.
Namadi explained that regular dredging of river channels and the removal of invasive weeds and other obstacles are essential to ensure unobstructed water flow, support agricultural and livestock production, and protect aquatic ecosystems. This initiative builds on a similar program launched in Ringim in 2024, which has improved water flow and reduced flooding in affected communities.
According to Namadi, the state government has acquired two additional amphibious excavators through the World Bank-supported Semi-Arid Landscape Agricultural Climate Resilience Program to enhance dredging operations. Currently, six amphibious excavators are operating in the state's river basins, including two owned by the state government and two provided by the Hadejia-Jama'are River Basin Development Authority. These machines have dredged over 180 kilometers of rivers and channels in the state, thereby improving water flow and reducing flood risks for vulnerable communities.
Dr. Nura Kazaure, Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, stated that the annual distribution plan reflects the government's commitment to environmental protection, community empowerment, and sustainable management of natural resources. Kazaure warned that polluted and blocked waterways continue to threaten agriculture, fisheries, and livelihoods, urging residents, traditional rulers, and community leaders to support efforts to keep rivers clean and unobstructed. The commissioner added that these supplies represent an investment in safer communities, improved food security, and a healthier environment.
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