Muhammad Garba
A Group of farmers in Jigawa state has faulted the management of the Hadejia Jamare River Basin Development Authority (HJRBDA) for the huge loss they suffered as a result of flooding this year.
The farmers demanded an immediate assessment of the damages caused by the flood and compensation paid to farmers to sustain production.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, the Special Adviser to Governor on Media Content, Malam Habibu Ringim said the access water released by the HJRBDA has contributed to worsening the flooding around the Hadejia River which led to unprecedented loss of farmlands and houses in 11 local government area s of Jigawa state.
Malam Habibu noted that in a letter signed by Managing Director, HJRBDA, Mr. Mamun Da’u Aliyu and addressed to the Secretary to Jigawa Government on 9th August 2022 alerted the state government and the public on their plan to release assess water from Tiga Dam.
According to him, the water flooding which occurred between August and September 2022 may not be unconnected to the release of the access water by the Authority: “The damaged caused by the flooding was so huge and farmers cannot bear the loss alone, therefore, there is need for HJRBDA to pay compensation to the victims,” he declared.
Habibu then called on all good people of Jigawa state including civil society organizations to join hands in demanding HDJRBDA to look into the predicament of the farmers and pay compensation for their loss.
The Governor’s Media aide, however, expressed dismay at the nonchalant attitude exhibited by the management of HJRBDA in managing the river, dams, and other irrigation facilities under them.
He said the management for reasons best known to them, they are denying farmers enough water during the dry season farming which is sabotaging federal government food policy while discharging the assess water during raining season.
Habibu, therefore, called on President Buhari to reconstitute the management of HJRBDA by bringing competent hands who can manage it effectively.
According to federal Government reports, Jigawa state is the worst hit state by flood in Nigeria in 2022 with over 140 reported death, 100,000 displaced, hundreds of hectares of farmland, and much of public infrastructures destroyed.
