The Kano State Government has identified 367 gully erosion sites across the state, with four of the locations requiring urgent intervention.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahiru Hashim, disclosed this on Monday while declaring open the NEWMAP-European Investment Bank, EIB, Joint Mission and Capacity-Building Workshop hosted by the state.
Mr Hashim, who is also the Chairman of the State Steering Committee for the project, said the four priority sites had been selected for intervention under the new Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project, NCAEWMP.
Delivering a keynote address at the opening of the four-day workshop, the commissioner said tackling erosion in Kano required an integrated approach that went beyond conventional engineering solutions.
He identified poor drainage, indiscriminate waste disposal, water management, environmental degradation and the development of climate-resilient livelihoods as interconnected challenges that must be addressed to achieve sustainable results.
According to him, the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had demonstrated strong commitment to the project through the provision of counterpart funding, political support and the establishment of a competent and dedicated State Project Implementation Unit, SPIU.
Mr Hashim reaffirmed the state government’s determination to position Kano as a leading model in the implementation of NCAEWMP.
He said the state was fully committed to the successful implementation of the EIB-supported project, which builds on the achievements and lessons of the World Bank-financed Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP.
“We do not intend to participate merely to be counted among the participating states. We intend to lead.
“We want Kano to emerge as a model of what an effective State Project Implementation Unit can achieve under the Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project,” the commissioner said.
Mr Hashim also highlighted the youthful composition of the Kano SPIU, describing the energy, innovation and technical expertise of young professionals as major advantages that would contribute to efficient project delivery.
He recalled that Kano had recorded significant achievements under the previous World Bank-supported NEWMAP, including the construction of Yansabo water conservation structures in Tofa Local Government Area, restoration of 450 hectares of degraded land, installation of telemetry and weather stations, and development of bankable designs for erosion-control and water-conservation structures.
The commissioner urged participants at the workshop to use the platform to exchange experiences, strengthen institutional partnerships and develop practical and innovative solutions to improve project implementation across participating states.
He assured the European Investment Bank, the United Nations Office for Project Services, UNOPS, federal authorities and other stakeholders of the continued commitment and support of the Kano State Government and the Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change towards the successful implementation of the project.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the four-day workshop, scheduled for September 7–10, 2026, brought together representatives of the European Investment Bank, UNOPS, Federal Project Management Unit, relevant Federal Government institutions, State Project Coordinators, technical experts and other stakeholders from participating states.
