TheCable

The Gombe state executive council has approved the payment of N389 million to residents affected by the gully erosion control project at Federal College of Education Technical and its surrounding communities.

NAN reports that Mohammed Magaji, the commissioner for finance, spoke at the SEC meeting on Friday in Gombe, the state capital.

Magaji said the payment, which will commence immediately, is for individuals and organisations around the gully erosion site.

The commissioner said the compensation is part of the World Bank’s requirements for property owners who would be affected by the project.

He said the payment would be made to almost 1,000 affected persons in order to ensure their seamless resettlement.

“The beneficiaries are in hundreds, almost 1,000 people; there is compensation for houses, and also for business premises,” he said.

“There are also stipends for the elderly living around that area so that they are able to have good livelihood”.

The Gombe government had previously signed a N12 billion contract with Triacta Nigeria Limited for a 21-kilometre gully erosion control work in six communities within the state.

The initiative is part of the ACRESAL project, a World Bank-assisted project that aims to address the challenges of land degradation and climate change in northern Nigeria.