Chima Azubuike, Gombe state.
The Gombe NewMap project has identified over 235 gully erosion across the state. This was made known on thursday by the project manager Engr. Mohammed Abdullahi, at an assessment tour in company with North East Development Commission. The team visited Dahiru Deba bridge in GRA, and Doma bridge which links Gombe state to Biu in Borno state.
He noted that there are 235 active gullies in the state, which are more than 4 metres in width and depth of about 2-3 metres.
He added that “With the little resources that we have, we can only attend to just five. It is very sad when you look at people living around the gullies. This is only in Gombe LGA, we have over 30 of this type. Farmlands have been washed away. Gombe state has released counterpart funding of about 500 Million naira to assist us. Our prayer is that your commission will come in and assist us we can only attend to just 5 gullies, 4 in Gombe, 1 in kumo which is just about 24 kilometers. The remaining are over 100 kilometres long, it will be good if your commission helps us. This alone is about 5 kilometres long” he said.
The Secretary of the state government, Prof Abubakar Njodi, while appealing to the North East Development Commission to assist the state in tackling gullies highlighted the effort of Governor Inuwa Yahaya, in establishing the 3G, Gombe Goes Green project as a one of the immediate palliative measure of the government in tackling erosion issues. He said “As a responsible government, we decided to pay what is called counterpart funding to most of the development partners including the NewMap, we gave them the task that even if they can’t do it, they should advise us with how to go about it. With 500 million naira counterpart funding it is no where close to what is needed to tackle the challenge. We are soliciting for assistance, where possible the commission deems fit” he added.
In his response, the chairman of the commission Maj. Gen. Paul Tarfa Rtd
, appreciated the state government for deeming it fit to show them the challenges caused by erosion. He said “As you know we are on fact finding mission and we have seen it. It is a pity that this is one of many that you have. We assure you that we will do all within our ability. We won’t be able to attend to all but definitely something will be done in collaboration with the effort of the state government. We are happy the SSG is here, a man of ideas all this is in a matter of time but we will definitely come to the aid of the state as far as such issues are concerned” he noted.