Nigeria Allocates $4.5M to Families Hit by Erosion Project

Families watching their land disappear into expanding gullies across Gombe State, Nigeria, are getting real help as their government tackles the twin challenges of climate resilience and fairness.

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved over 2 billion naira to compensate households affected by gully erosion control projects happening across the state. The initiative is part of the larger ACReSAL project, which stands for Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes.

Dr. Sani Adamu Jauro, the state project coordinator, shared the news during training sessions focused on handling grievances fairly. The compensation fund covers families whose properties need to be relocated or are impacted by the construction work required to stop the erosion.

Gully erosion has become a serious threat in semi-arid regions like Gombe, where heavy rains carve deep channels into the earth that can swallow homes, farmland, and roads. Climate change is making these extreme weather patterns worse, putting more communities at risk.

The project has already received about 700 complaints related to the Doma gully erosion control work in Gombe's main city area. Each complaint is being carefully documented and reviewed to make sure every family gets fair treatment.

The Ripple Effect

This compensation model shows how climate adaptation projects can protect both land and people. By budgeting for fair compensation upfront, Gombe is avoiding the common pitfall where communities resist environmental projects because they fear losing their homes without support.

The transparent grievance system also matters beyond this single project. It creates a blueprint for how governments can tackle climate challenges while maintaining trust with affected communities.

When families know they'll be treated fairly, they're more likely to support the larger environmental work their region needs. That cooperation makes the erosion control projects more effective and faster to complete.

The training on grievance procedures means local officials now have clear protocols for handling concerns as more erosion control sites open across the state. This systematic approach turns a reactive problem into a manageable process.

Gombe's investment proves that protecting the environment and protecting people aren't competing goals.