Katsina state Governor Aminu Bello Masari has performed the hand over of Jibiya township storm water and drainage management project to the contracting firm in Jibiya.
Addressing people at the site of the project, Alhaji Aminu 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 project would be executed under phase one urban drainage network for Jibiya flood control by the katsina state office of 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 that an unprecedented heavy and windy downpour resulted into massive flow of runoff of water into Gada River thereby causing stagnation and build up of storm water in the minor drainages within Jibiya town.
Alhaji Aminu Masari also recalled that the resulting catastrophe led to a total of 466 houses washed away, over 50 persons dead , over 300 domestic animals lost and house hold items including foodstuff worth over 2 billion Naira lost to the floods.
He said that the importance with which the present administration attached to the project saw to the recent flagged off of payment of compensations to all the project affected persons to facilitate smooth implementation of the project being handed over to the contractors at the event.
He expressed gratitude to President Muhammad Buhari for personal and official concern and support to people of katsina state in time 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 the support to the state ministry of environment and the NEWMAP , which facilitated the successes so far achieved.
In a keynote remarks, National Coordinator of NEWMAP, Dr Salisu Dahiru recalled that project started in 7 states and mostly from the South East and South south states of Nigeria.
Presently,Dr Salisu Dahiru said NEWMAP is in 23 states of the federation, adding that Katsina state which was in the third category of joining the project had now surpassed even states in the second generation of the project because of the doggedness of Governor Aminu Bello Masari in persuading World bank to approve the project.
Of all the 23 states,Dr Salisu Dahiru said in terms of cost and scope, none has flood control as big as that of Jibiya.
He assured the contractors that NEWMAP work in a unique way so that no abandoned projects because of prompt payment.
The state project coordinator of NEWMAP, Engineer Ashiru Mohammed announced that the Jibiya project had a duration of 12 months completion period.
Engr Ashiru Mohammed revealed that the contract had the scope of construction of Mai kwari , Dan Abdallah , channels and road network and drainages within Jibiya as well as perimeter fence along the project corridor to safeguard lives.
He said there would also be Biomediation of grassing and tree planting along the project corridor and within the catchment areas.
The representative of Mothercat Nigeria Limited Mr Morris promised to deliver based on the contract agreement.
He thank NEWMAP for opportunity given to them.
Highlight of the event was the handing over of the project to the contractors and a visit to the company site in Jibiya.
