The Kogi State Government has restated its determination to tackle erosion and flooding through the deployment of sustainable infrastructure aimed at providing lasting solutions to ecological challenges across the state.
Speaking in Lokoja on Saturday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, said the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo-led administration is focused on reshaping Kogi with solution-driven projects that guarantee safety, sustainability, and improved quality of life for residents.
He disclosed that newly constructed drainage systems in parts of the state, including Etahi, Omigbo, and Olubojo in Ankpa, have already begun yielding results.
“Our drains are working as designed. Rainwater is being efficiently collected and channelled away, reducing the risk of flooding. Within minutes of heavy rainfall, the water is soaked away, leaving communities safe and accessible,” Fanwo explained.
The Commissioner further revealed that the government is leveraging the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project to strengthen flood control measures and reclaim land previously lost to erosion.
“Kogi ACReSAL under Barr. Ladi Jatto has become a game-changing platform for the administration as we are making the best of the opportunities offered to drive sustainable solutions to ecological challenges,” he said.
Fanwo stressed that the initiatives reflect Governor Ododo’s vision of building resilient communities through proactive and sustainable infrastructure.
“Kogi is no longer just reacting to ecological disasters; we are proactively deploying infrastructure that prevents them. This is a new dawn in our approach to flood control and environmental sustainability,” he added.
The state, in 2024, suffered one of its worst flood disasters which submerged thousands of houses, displaced over a million people, and affected nine out of 21 local government areas.
Recall that PUNCH Online had reported on August 9, 2024, that Governor Ododo signed a N29.9 billion contract with two construction firms for the commencement of civil works at erosion sites in Etahi, Omigbo, and Ankpa across the state’s three senatorial districts.
