The Kano State Government has commenced its yearly drainage clearance exercise aimed at reducing the risk of flooding during the rainy season and improving urban sanitation.
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The initiative, which began at the Baban Gwari Roundabout along Katsina Road which is a known flood hotspot, was flagged off by the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dahiru Hashim on Friday. He said the exercise was part of the government’s commitment to promoting environmental sustainability and building urban resilience.
According to the commissioner, the desilting work is already ongoing in several areas, with waste materials being swiftly evacuated to prevent further blockages. He noted that efforts are also being made to upgrade the drainage system at the Baban Gwari location to ease traffic and prevent future flood disasters.
Hashim lauded Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for making the annual exercise a permanent part of the state’s environmental strategy. He called on residents to take responsibility for their surroundings by properly disposing of waste and reporting blocked drainage channels to the appropriate authorities.
He also revealed that the state is seeing a decline in roadside dumping, which he attributed to intensified public awareness campaigns. Hashim added that the enforcement of the state’s environmental pollution control law would commence soon, following the completion of an eight-week sensitization programme currently in its sixth week.
He said the state government is adopting a proactive approach to tackling urban flooding while fostering a cleaner and safer environment for all.
