The Gombe State Government has made significant progress on a 7.5-kilometre gully erosion control project stretching from the International Hotel to the residence of the Commissioner of Police in Nayinawa.
Commissioner for Water, Environment, and Forest Resources, Mohammed Fawu, said 7.5 kilometers gully erosion control project includes reinforced concrete channels with backfilling, bioremediation and fencing.
Fawu commended the contractor’s work, noting improved access and reconnection of previously divided communities. He said the project has transformed once-impassable gullies into motorable paths.
He said, “We are here to inspect the ongoing work that the his excellency awarded to Triacta sometimes in August 2024.”
The commissioner continued saying, “If you can recall last week after the State Executive Council meeting it was announced that erosion control from GGSS Doma to behind Police Commissioner’s residence and it was awarded to Triacta at the cost of N48 billion. We thought to come and see what progress has been made here so that the general public can appreciate why the section of the contract was awarded.”
Speaking about his assessment shortly after completing his tour, Fawu said, “the contractor has done a very good job. I usually come here to visit, but because I don’t have full knowledge of the work carried out there were sections the contractor took us to today. In the past there were large gullies but today you can pass through with your car and I think it’s a big plus.”
He continued saying “The communities have been connected which in the past wasn’t so as they were threatened by the gullies including the children, they could only see from afar without connecting but now bridges have been constructed and it’s a big plus I think so. The school over there additional work needs to be done there, the school will be properly fenced, trees will be planted.”
Triacta’s Area Manager, Imran Khan, confirmed the concrete work is complete and the entire project should be finished within months. He noted initial challenges with site access but praised community cooperation.
Khan added that additional work, including adjustments based on rainwater flow and support for host communities, would follow the rainy season.
He said, “We are at the International Hotel to behind police commissioner house gully erosion control project. It comprises of 7.5 kilometers reinforced concrete channels with backfilling, bioremediation and fencing.
“The project is almost complete as you can see all the concrete works have been completed, within couple of months the project will be over.”
Khan highlighted accessibility to site as part of the challenges faced, “it was risky operation but thank God we have passed that stage. The communities cooperated with in granting us access to the place. We envisage vandalism to the fencing, which already I stated earlier that the stakeholders and community members have helped us. We are happy we completed the project before the rainy season,” he added.
On connection of communities’ drainages to the main channel, Khan added, “as the rainy season progresses; we will notice some of the oversights and we will provide accordingly whatever is necessary there. To add fingers to help the host communities, will be done after the rainy season. The rainy season will be a yardstick to observe and determine what will be done.”
