Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano State has pledged to tackle the devastating gully erosion in Bulbula-Gayawa in Ungogo Local Government Area, which has plagued the community for decades.

In a statement on Saturday, the governor’s media aide, Bature Tofa, quoted him as saying this during a visit to the devastated areas.

Mr Yusuf emphasised the urgent need for action to protect lives and property in the area.

“My administration is committed to addressing land degradation, environmental risks, and climate change impacts.

“This will be achieved through the Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) project, in partnership with the World Bank and the federal government of Nigeria,” Mr Yusuf said.

Mr Yusuf said the visit marked a new chapter in the journey towards addressing the persistent environmental challenges in the area.

The affected communities include Bulbula-Gayawa, Nasarawa and Fagge local government areas.

He said the urgent concerns raised by the devastating gully erosion necessitated immediate and decisive action to protect the lives and properties of the people in the community.

“The destructive effects of the gully erosion have not only claimed lives but have inflicted untold hardship from the tragic loss of farmlands to the dangers faced by the children as they go to school.

“The site has regrettably become a place where criminal activities flourished, and the loss of children due to flooding during the rainy season, it is heartbreaking,” Mr Yusuf said.

He said his administration was firmly committed to tackling the erosion challenges in Bulbula-Gayawa as part of the larger mission to address land degradation, environmental risks and impacts of climate change.

The governor also informed the affected community members that the groundwork for the erosion control had been completed, adding that it would require billions of naira to execute.

“Beyond controlling erosion, we are implementing community support programmes to revive livelihoods and rebuild what has been lost.

“Our livelihood support includes agricultural inputs and skill-building initiatives to empower families and foster productivity in a secure and peaceful environment,” the governor said.

(NAN)