KATSINA STATE PROJECT: Mothercat Seals N8.9b Jibia Drainage Contract

Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari has performed the handing over of Jibia township storm water and drainage management project to the contracting firm.

Addressing people at the site of the project, Masari who handed over the project to mothercat Nigeria Limited explained that the project would cost over 8.9 billion Naira.

He said that the handing over is for the first phase of the project to be executed under the Katsina State office of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed management project (NEWMAP) , describing it as a long awaited project.

The Governor explained that the handing over of the project had demonstrated that the sorrowful event of Sunday night that took place on 15th July,2018 was not forgotten by the administration.

On that day, Governor Masari recalled, an unprecedented heavy and windy downpour resulted in massive flow of runoff water into Gada River thereby causing stagnation and build up of storm water in the minor drainages within town.

Governor Masari also recalled that the resulting catastrophe led to a total of 466 houses washed away, over 50 persons dead, over 300 domestic animals and household hold items including foodstuff worth over 2 billion Naira lost to the floods.

He said that the importance which the present APC administration attached to the project saw to the recent flag-off of payment of compensations to people affected by the project to facilitate smooth implementation of the project.

He expressed gratitude to President Muhammad Buhari for his personal and official concern and support to people of Katsina state especially in times of distress.

He urged the contractors and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with the terms of the agreement for smooth and successful implementation of the project.

In a welcome address, the state Commissioner of Environment, Alhaji Hamza Suleiman Faskari announced that Katsina state government financed the development of design for the Jibiya township storm water drainage and diversion project to the tune of over 662 million Naira.

The advocacy tool, according to the Commissioner succeeded in gaining the approval of the World Bank to finance the first phase of the project, which is intended to provide Jibiya township storm water and drainage management system.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Aminu Bello Masari for his unflinching support to the state Ministry of Environment and the NEWMAP office, which facilitated the successes so far achieved.

In a keynote address, the National Coordinator of NEWMAP Dr Salisu Dahiru, recalled that projects started in 7 states and mostly from the South-East and South-South states of the Federation.

Presently,Dr Salisu Dahiru said, NEWMAP is in 23 states of the federation, adding that Katsina state which was in the fourth category of joining the project had now surpassed even states in the second generation of the project because of the consistency and tenacity of Governor Aminu Bello Masari in persuading the World Bank to approve the project.

Of all the 23 states,Dr Salisu Dahiru stated, in terms of cost and scope, none has flood control as big as that of Jibia.

He assured the contractors that NEWMAP work in a unique way that leaves no room for abandoned projects.

The State Project coordinator of NEWMAP, Engineer Ashiru Mohammed announced that the Jibia project has a completion period of 1-2.

Engineer Ashiru revealed that the contract had the scope of construction of Mai kwari, Dan Abdallah, channels and road network including some other drainages within Jibia as well as perimeter fence along the project corridor to safeguard lives and properties.

He said there would also be Biomediation of grassing and tree planting along the project corridor and within the catchment areas.

Highlight of the event was the handing over of the project to the contractors and a visit to the company site in Jibia.