The Federal Government has urged the people of Jama’are communities, Bauchi State to take over ownership and maintenance of the flood and Erosion Control Project in the area.
The President Muhammadu Buhari made this statement during the commissioning and handover ceremony of the flood and erosion control project in Jamaa’re, Bauchi state.
While commissioning the project, the President, represented by the Minister of state for Industry, Trade and Investment Ambassador Maryam Y. Katagum said that the project is one of the Federal Government ecological intervention projects approved by Mr. President for the first and second quarters, 2019.
He noted that the project was approved to address the fundamental challenges that bedeviled the town of Jama’are over the years, pointing out that the topography of Jama’are town with zero level slope made it susceptible to annual flood disasters and with the attendant erosion along the runoff courses thereby posing serious threat to farmlands, lives and properties.
President Buhari noted that the completion of the project had underscored the Federal Government’s concerted effort and sincerity of purpose in tackling environmental problems in the country and making life more meaningful for the people of this great nation.
Mr. President thanked the people of Jama’are for their cooperation and support which they accorded the contractor that led to the successful execution and speedy completion of the project.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Ecological Project Office, Dr. Habiba Lawal, represented by the Director II Soil Erosion and Flood Control Department Mr. Mathias Eluma noted that the project was initiated through a request from the concerned indigenes and forwarded to the Ecological Project Office for an urgent intervention in order to arrest the erosion and annual flooding that kept manifesting with damning consequences on the lives and properties of the inhabitants.
Lawal also urged the benefitting communities to takeover and exercise ownership of the project to ensure its maintenance and sustainability so that resources which the Federal government had committed to the project would not be allowed to waste.
The Governor of Bauchi state, Senator Bala Muhammad represented by his Deputy, Senator Baba Tela, stated in his remark that the project was done to salvage the venerable town of Jama’are from the menace of flood and erosion. He noted that by her location Jama’are town is close to the river which makes it prone to environmental degradation owing to river overflow.
He pointed out that with the project, the fear of flooding with resultant loss of lives, destruction of houses and farm produce would be allayed while economic activities would be boosted and standard of living improved in the town.
Mohammad commended the Federal Government for the intervention project and appealed for more Federal Government intervention in other parts of Bauchi State which are prone to flood and erosion.
Speaking on behalf of the community, His Royal Highness Alhaji Ahmadu Mohammadu Wabi III, OON, Emir of Jama’are represented by Alh. Nuhu Ahmed, appreciated Ecological Project Office and the Federal Government for the intervention project and also appealed to the Ecological Project Office to visit other parts of the town and see some other environmental degradation challenges the communities are facing. He cited the threat of Jama’are bridge as an example.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of Jama’are local Government Area Hon. Samaila Yusuf Jarma commended the Federal Government for the project executed in their community and promised to protect and maintain the project.
Present at the event were the Gimbiya of jama’are, Hajiya kulu Abba kyari, The honourable Commissioner for environment Bauchi State, Deputy Chairman Jama’are L.G.A, Community Leaders, Councilor Jama’are L.G.A, Members of the Community and the press.
