The Kano State Government has commenced its annual drainage clearance exercise to reduce the risk of flooding as the rainy season begins.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Hashim, flagged off the exercise on Friday at Baban Gwari Roundabout along Katsina Road—one of the flood-prone areas in Kano metropolis.
He described the initiative as a proactive step toward tackling urban flooding and promoting environmental sustainability.
“This is not just another routine government activity. It reflects our commitment to proactive environmental governance and urban resilience,” Hashim said.
He noted that the annual desilting program has now been institutionalized as a regular event under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.
According to him, the Baban Gwari Roundabout—an essential junction in the Jakara–Kwarin Gogau stormwater system—will also undergo infrastructural upgrades to modernize the drainage network, reduce recurrent flooding, and improve both traffic flow and pedestrian safety.
Hashim praised Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf for approving the formalization of the annual exercise and for supporting the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure across the state.
He urged residents to refrain from indiscriminate waste disposal and to report blocked drains to the appropriate authorities.
“The government will do its part, but citizens must also take responsibility. Sustainable environmental management requires collective effort,” he emphasized.
The commissioner noted that desilting work had already started in several communities, with waste being promptly evacuated to prevent future blockages.
While there is currently no partnership with federal agencies, Hashim said the state government is taking independent and timely action to mitigate flooding before the peak of the rainy season.
On broader waste management efforts, he reported progress in curbing roadside dumping, attributing this improvement to ongoing public sensitization campaigns.
He further disclosed that enforcement of the state’s Environmental Pollution Control Law would begin after an eight-week awareness campaign, which is now in its sixth week.
