Dutse (Nigeria): The Hadejia Local Government Council of Jigawa has commenced construction of a three-kilometre tunnel to divert excess water from a pond to River Hadejia.
The council’s Information Officer, Muhammad Talaki, made this known in a statement issued on Friday in Dutse.
Talaki stated that the chairman of the council, Alhaji Ahmed Abba-Ari, made the announcement in Hadejia during the inauguration of the project, worth about N60 million.
He quoted the chairman as saying that “the gesture is part of the council’s efforts to provide a lasting solution to recurring floods affecting communities around the pond, popularly known as ‘Jaribola.”
Abba-Ari said the annual Flooding had been devastating farmlands, markets, displaced families and disrupted the livelihoods of residents of the area.
He reiterated the council’s commitment to finding sustainable solutions to the perennial challenges that threaten the lives and property of citizens.
He explained that “the tunnel is expected to significantly reduce the impact of the seasonal flooding and enhance water management in the area.”
In his remark, the Head of Works Department of the council, Alhaji Muhammad Ubale, expressed confidence that the company handling the project would execute the job in accordance with the contractual agreement reached with the council, along with all required facilities.
A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end. However, there may be access and ventilation openings at various points along the length.
A tunnel may be for foot, vehicular road traffic or for a canal.