How Kaduna communities are fighting erosion from ground up

For residents of Rigasa in Kaduna State, the rainy season is a period of both relief and fear.

While rainfall supports farming and replenishes water sources, heavy downpours often bring flooding, gully erosion, damaged roads and threats to homes and livelihoods.

Faced with the recurring challenge, residents have developed grassroots responses to protect their communities. They clear blocked drainage channels, remove refuse from waterways, fill emerging erosion paths and mobilise neighbours when heavy rains put vulnerable areas at risk.

But residents say the problem has grown beyond what communities can handle on their own.

Asmau Sadiq, a resident, said erosion had destroyed houses and access roads in Rigasa over the years.

“Erosion has taken away our houses and access roads over the years. We have suffered for years, but I believe this government intervention will finally bring lasting relief,” she said.

For Sadiq Lawal, heavy rainfall is often accompanied by uncertainty, particularly for families living close to erosion channels.

“We are always worried when it starts raining. You don’t know what will happen when the rain becomes heavy,” he said.

Lawal said a permanent solution would restore residents’ sense of security.

“It will protect our homes and our future,” he added.

The situation in Rigasa is part of a wider erosion and flooding challenge affecting communities across Kaduna State.

Experts have linked the problem to uncontrolled stormwater, blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate dumping of waste, vegetation loss and rapid development that places pressure on natural waterways.

These factors have contributed to the expansion of gullies, threatening homes, roads, farmlands and other infrastructure.

Before the commencement of major government intervention, Rigasa residents had relied largely on collective action.

Residents identify newly developing erosion channels and mobilise others to fill them before they widen. Sanitation exercises are also organised to keep drainage channels and waterways free of refuse.

The District Head of Rigasa, Aminu Idris, said the community had experienced the consequences of erosion for years.

“During the rainy season, we lose farmlands, houses, and sometimes lives because of erosion. This intervention gives us hope,” Idris said.

He acknowledged, however, that community efforts could only go so far, stressing the need for large-scale government intervention.

That intervention has now come in the form of a N34 billion flood and gully erosion control project along the Rigasa-Tudun Wada corridor.

The 17.8-kilometre project is expected to tackle persistent flooding and erosion while protecting homes, roads and other infrastructure in the area.

The Kaduna State Government has also paid about N2 billion in compensation to nearly 1,000 residents whose properties will be affected by the project.

Governor Uba Sani said the payment was part of the government’s commitment to ensuring that affected residents were adequately compensated.

“This government has promised that we will not demolish anyone’s property until we have paid adequate compensation,” Sani said.

For residents, the intervention could mark a shift from years of emergency responses to a more permanent solution.

“We want a permanent solution; we want to be able to sleep when it rains without worrying about our houses,” Lawal said.

However, environmental experts warn that constructing drainage and erosion-control infrastructure will not, by itself, eliminate the problem.

They say communities must continue to protect drainage systems, properly dispose of waste and avoid practices that accelerate soil degradation.

A 2025 study on gully erosion in Kaduna South Local Government Area identified environmental and socio-economic conditions as factors contributing to the formation and expansion of gullies.

The findings point to the need for a combination of engineering solutions, environmental management and community participation.

Experts recommend regular sanitation exercises, tree planting, proper waste disposal and protection of natural waterways as measures that communities can sustain.

They also say community leaders should help identify erosion-prone areas, mobilise residents and quickly alert government agencies when new threats emerge.

Residents, environmentalists note, are often the first to detect blocked drainage channels or newly forming erosion paths. Their knowledge of local terrain can therefore complement government engineering projects.

The challenge has become more urgent as population growth and unplanned development continue to put pressure on natural drainage routes.

Experts consequently advocate integrated measures that combine effective drainage systems, proper urban planning, vegetation restoration, waste management and regular maintenance.

Sadiq said residents were willing to cooperate with the government to ensure that the project delivers its intended benefits.

“We are ready to support the government; we want the project to succeed because it is about our homes, our children and our future,” he said.

Idris similarly urged continued collaboration between residents and government agencies, noting that early intervention was more effective than waiting until erosion caused widespread damage.

The Rigasa experience demonstrates how communities can contribute to environmental protection even when they lack the resources to implement major infrastructure projects.

Their roles in sanitation, early warning, public awareness and maintenance remain essential to the success of larger government interventions.

For residents who have endured years of erosion, the expectation is simple: that the new project will protect their homes and livelihoods and allow them to face heavy rainfall without the fear that another storm could wash away what they have built.

Ultimately, the success of the intervention will depend on more than concrete structures. Sustained community participation, responsible environmental practices and regular maintenance will be critical to keeping erosion and flooding under control.