Flood: Bauchi Launches Desilting Campaign Across LGAs

In a proactive move to curb flooding during the rainy season, the Bauchi State Government, through the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), on Saturday launched a comprehensive desilting campaign across the 20 local government areas of the state.

The exercise, prompted by early flood warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET), involves the clearing of drainages, culverts and waterways to reduce the risk of flooding and enhance environmental safety across the state.

Speaking with journalists at Gwallaga in Bauchi metropolis, where several drainages and culverts were scheduled for evacuation, the state commissioner for Housing and Environment, Hon Danlami Ahmed, said the initiative follows Governor Bala Mohammed’s directive to implement flood mitigation strategies early enough than waiting for emergencies.

He urged residents to support the campaign by keeping their surroundings clean and refraining from indiscriminate refuse disposal.

Also, the state coordinator of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), Dr Kabir Ibrahim, emphasised that desilting is a continuous effort due to persistent runoff and waste accumulation, particularly in densely populated and poorly drained areas.

Dr Kabir noted that the effort aligns with Component C of ACReSAL’s Institutional Strengthening objective, which supports ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) in fulfilling their mandates.

He commended Governor Bala Mohammed for fostering inter-agency collaboration that made the initiative possible.

He further disclosed that ACReSAL has allocated N82 million for the desilting project, covering procurement of tools, truck rentals, labour and other logistics, underscoring the project’s goal of building a resilient and sustainable environment.

On his part, the director-general of BASEPA, Dr Mahmood Mohammed Bose, revealed that the desilting activities, funded by Bauchi ACReSAL, would be carried out across the 20 LGAs and form part of BASEPA’s mandate to conduct biannual clearing to ensure proper water flow in urban centres.

The project is being executed under the Community Driven Development (CDD) model, which engages local residents to participate in the process, providing both employment opportunities and strengthening community involvement.

Dr Bose also highlighted the importance of traditional institutions in ensuring the project’s success.

A resident of Gwallaga, Idris Rabi’u, expressed gratitude for the launch of the exercise in their area and praised the Bauchi State government, the Ministry of Housing and Environment, ACReSAL, and BASEPA for the timely initiative, noting that it would help to reduce flood risks and protect lives and property.