The Dandume Local Government of Katsina State has awarded a N20 million contract to tackle erosion menace threatening communities in the area.
Alhaji Abdulkadir Muhammad, the council’s caretaker committee chairman, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Dandume, headquarters of the local government.
Muhammad described erosion as a threat to the lives and economic activities of the people, saying that contracts had been awarded for seven erosion control projects in Dandume town, Tumburkau, and Dantankari, among others.
He said the communities had suffered degradation, leading to loss of farmlands, grazing reserves, as well as dilapidation of waterways and buildings.
Muhammad said the council had also embarked on the construction of drainage canals in some parts of the council, and warned residents against indiscriminate waste disposal “which contributes to environmental pollution’’.
He said the council had earmarked the sum of N4 million for the rehabilitation of boreholes to ease the problem of water shortage being experienced by the people in the area.
The chairman said that his administration spent N5 million?rehabilitate six community television viewing centres, and construction of two additional ones to increase social interaction and awareness among rural communities.
Muhammad said that electrification projects worth N15 million were also awarded for Unguwar Maigayya, Takalmawa, Unguwar Jika, Gyazamar Tukwane, Baraje and Madobi areas, and that ?work was ongoing on the projects..
He said the council distributed 100 bundles of roofing sheets, and 600 bags of cement as assistance to community-based projects, as well as 60 tricycles to handicapped persons to aid their mobility.
Similarly, Muhammad said that N6 million was disbursed to youths and women as interest-free loan, while 20 motorised tricycles were distributed to youths on loan for commercial transportation in the area.
The chairman was one of those sworn in as caretaker committee chairmen on Feb. 28. ?(NAN)