By YANGE IKYAA
The minister of water resources, Suleiman Adamu, has commissioned two excavators purchased by Hadejia-Jama’re River Basin Development Authority (H-JRBDA) at Barrage in Jigawa State.
Delivering his keynote address, the minister stated that the two machines commissioned were specifically designed for operation in wetlands, riverbeds, and flood plains, where ordinary excavators cannot operate.
In his words, “the excavators can efficiently carry out a whole lot, such as flood and disaster recovery work, dredging, environmental remediation and removal of typha grass.”
According to the minister, the general reduction in the storage of water in Hadejia Barrage and the Kanya River reservoirs resulted in the growth of typha grass and silt deposits within the resevoirs and the main irrigation water canals, which necessitated the purchase of the two amphibious excavators.
Adamu further explained that 80% of the main canals and other distribution channels were completely blocked, thereby obstructing the free flow of water in the irrigation schemes in Kano River and Hadeja Valley. However, the newly acquired amphibious excavators, he said, are to promote the maintenance of the irrigation schemes and to enhance revenue generation.
In his speech, the managing director of Hadejia-Jama’re River Basin Development Authority, Ma’amun Da’u Aliyu, pointed out that the Jigawa State Government has also purchased additional two CAT 320 model amphibious excavators that will be concurrently used to work alongside the two in Guri Town for river-work training and removal of typha grass for the next two weeks, after which they will moved back to Guri.
He appreciated the State Government for the donation of N106 to the flood fighting efforts, calling it “a notable example, worthy of emulation.”
Aliyu further called on other State Governments to emulate Jigawa State, pointing out that this is an opportunity to clean up river basins across Nigeria.
He also assured the Jigawa State Government that the training of the eight technical staff of the Authority for the maintenance of the machines will be effectively deployed to generate revenue for the maintenance and the good of the state .
In his own advice, the water resources minister urged the people to ensure the maintenance and sustainance of the machines for well-intended purposes.
