Reps C’tte on ecological funds visits Jigawa flood victims, assures mitigation of erosion

From Ibrahim Kaulahi, Gusau

As part of the fulfillment of their statutory functions, members of the House of Representatives committee on ecological funds have paid an oversight visit/inspection to the flood victims in Jigawa state.

According to the statement which made available to newsmen in Gusau Zamfara State capital by the Media Aide to The committee Chairman Ecological Funds of Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji, Jamilu Iliyasu Birnin Magaji, said the committe was in Jigawa State to ascertain the level of damage caused by erosion that led to recent flood and make recommendations for the federal government for amelioration of pains in the victims.

The oversight visit was at the instance of the Jigawa state Governor Malam Ummaru Namadi in Dutse and other strategic places within the state.

It explained that, hon. Jaji who described the tragedy that befalls the people of Jigawa as shocking identified desertification, land degradation, climate change crisis as well as deforestation as the major social problems affecting some areas exposed to flooding in Nigeria every year.

The Chairman insisted that, their oversight visits to states besides Jigawa is an extended one hence himself and members of his committee are going to go round all the states affected by flooding and assess the situation for possible remedy.

He emphasized that his committee will work round the clock to ensure that sustainable mitigation measures are provided to ensure that states like Jigawa are assisted to restore normalcy and hope among their vulnerable victims.

He also informed the Governor that their committee will assist the state to have sustainable land management practice and climate change control measures in the state.

Hon. Aminu Jaji said the committee identified Jigawa state as one of the frontline states affected by flooding, gully erosion, desertification and land degradation, hence the need for the committee to do all it can to offer solution to the problems confronting the people of the state is enormous.

He thanked the Governor for the warmed reception accorded them while on the working visit to the state and pray for God almighty to grant him the wisdom to continue to explore better options for the transformation of the state.

Governor Malam Umar Namadi in a response, thanked the Chairman of the committee and members for choosing Jigawa state as the first point of call, especially considering the impacts brought by frequent flood disasters almost on yearly basis.

The Governor informed the committee that for this year alone twenty-three out of twenty-seven local government areas of the state were badly affected by the flood, adding that about (40,000) households were directly affected.

In addition, he said, (7000) houses were destroyed or submerged by the heavy rainfall, noting that about (6,500) farmlands were destroyed in the above-mentioned local government councils.

Linking the devastating consequences of the flooding, the Governor stated that close to (8000) people mostly households were displaced and taking refuge at several undesignated Internally Displaced Camps within the state.

Providing the internal measures put in place by the Jigawa State government to guard against frequent occurrence of the flood disaster, Governor Namadi stated that, his administration has championed the planting of 5.5 million trees within the state.

He called on the committee to come to the aid of Jigawa people, especially in supporting them with the measures that would help secure their environment against the factors stated above.

Highlight of the visit was direct assessment made by the Chairman and his committee members in places affected by the flood which includes, Dutse town, Kiyawa and Buji local government areas of the state.