Bauchi Gov Orders Faster Work on ACReSAL Flood, Erosion Control Project

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has expressed concern over the slow pace of work on the multi-billion-naira flood and erosion control project being implemented by the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) from Tsohon Kampani to Gwallaga-Mayaka in Bauchi Local Government Area.

The Governor, who inspected the project at the Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP) section, directed the contractor handling the project to deploy additional equipment and manpower to ensure faster execution and timely completion.

The 15.2-kilometre project, which includes 3.2 kilometres of feeder channels, had reached only 7.2 per cent completion at the time of the inspection.

The intervention is located within the same micro-catchment where ACReSAL is implementing several other projects aimed at improving environmental resilience and reducing the impact of flooding and erosion in vulnerable communities.

Governor Mohammed expressed dissatisfaction with the level of mobilisation at the project site, stressing that funding was not a constraint to its implementation.

He said the Bauchi State Government had released 40 per cent of the contract sum and therefore expected the contractor to intensify activities and make visible progress on the project.

The Governor noted that the intervention dates back to an initiative conceived during the administration of former Governor Ahmed Adamu Mu’azu, describing the ongoing project as a significant humanitarian intervention designed to safeguard communities situated along river channels and other flood-prone areas.

Earlier, the ACReSAL Task Team Leader, Dr Joy Iganya Agena, commended the quality of work already undertaken but expressed concern about the pace of execution.

Agena described the project as one of the biggest ACReSAL interventions in terms of its coverage, scale and financial value, urging the contractor to increase the number of personnel and equipment deployed to the site.

She said stronger mobilisation was necessary to close the implementation gap and ensure delivery within the agreed timeframe.

In his response, the contractor blamed the slow progress largely on the rainy season, assuring the Governor that efforts were already underway to substantially increase mobilisation.

He said four separate teams would commence simultaneous operations at different sections of the project, supported by additional equipment and workers.

The contractor expressed optimism that the project would be completed between March and April 2027.