Hadejia-Jama’are MD visits flood-risk canals in Hadejia, Miga towns, assures of quick action

The Managing Director of Hadejia-Jama’are River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA), Engineer Rabi’u Sulaiman Bichi, has led members of his management team on an inspection tour of canals to Hadejia and Miga towns in Jigawa State.

This is even as the team, led by the Managing Director, paid a courtesy visit to the Jigawa State governor, Malam Umar Namadi on Wednesday, where he disclosed that the Authority is working on the expansion of 6,500 hectares of farmlands in the state to improve irrigation activities.

While on the on-the-spot assessment visit to Miga, the Managing Director and his team have had to abandon their vehicles and ferried on motorcycles deep into the remote Miga Mashau canal, which, according to him, is posing a serious risk of flooding to its neighbouring farmlands and communities.

He said the Authority’s canal, which passess through the community, had overflown and submerged a lot of farmlands, following the breaking down of a bridge along its path.

According to him, an emergency work would be carried out barely 20 days after their assumption of office, which would allow the re-channeling of the river back to its main canal to forestall the recurrence.

Bichi explained that as part of the Authority’s mandates, maintaining of canals, offering advice to farmers as well as training of the youth are top priorities, hence their visit for first-hand information.

During their visit to the state governor, the Managing Director thanked the state government for its support, especially in combating typha grass along canals and improving water management.

Engineer Bichi said the state governor’s commitment was “instrumental in helping us restore the functionality of our waterways, thereby reducing flooding and enhancing water management for the benefit of our communities.

“With the present 5,740 hectares net area developed, farmers are producing about 220,000 metric tonnes of food and cash crops, including wheat, rice, maize, tomatoes and other vegetables, valued at over N154.4 billion annually.

“Other programmes under our River Management Initiatives include the establishment of green houses and drip irrigation at Gumel town, among others.”

He said the Authority has developed plans to expand irrigation by 6,500 hectares in Jigawa State, in addition to several key projects approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Managing Director added that the 2025 Appropriation has allocated over N28 billion through the HJRBDA in Jigawa State, alongside N59 billion already earmarked for Greater Dutse Water Supply.

On his part, Governor Namadi expressed his administration’s readiness to work closely with the Authority to expand irrigation activities and address the perennial flooding incidents.

Gov. Namadi noted that the Hadejia Valley alone has 24,000 hectares of land, with 6,000 already developed and 18,000 more targeted for agricultural use.

The team, which included directors and other staff of the Authority, had also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Hadejia, HRH, Alhaji (Dr.) Adamu Abubakar Maje, where they briefed him on the activities of the Authority.

They later visited the Hadejia Canal, which covers both wet and dry season farming, adding that efforts are underway to extend the southern canal linked to Hadejia Barrage, as part of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.