The Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has begun a series of major infrastructure milestones and institutional reforms aimed at tackling industrial pollution, mitigating perennial flooding, and improving the welfare of environmental frontline workers.
In a comprehensive progress report, the Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahir M. Hashim, detailed a strategic shift toward “accountable governance and resilient public infrastructure” under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf.
A centrepiece of the administration’s environmental agenda, according to the environment and climate change commissioner, is the near-completion of the Kano Integrated Pollution Management Facility.
Hashim recently concluded an inspection of secondary treatment plants situated within the Challawa, Bompai, and Sharada industrial zones.
For years, host communities in these areas have suffered from foul odours and contaminated groundwater.
The new facility, implemented in partnership with the federal government’s Ecological Fund Office and supported by a technical model from UNIDO, is designed to treat industrial wastewater and effluent that was previously discharged untreated.
“Restoring public trust remains a central priority,” the commissioner noted, adding that the facilities are designed to be self-sustaining through a metered discharge accountability system.
Once fully operational, the state plans to enforce 100 per cent compliance among industrial operators. The system also promotes a circular economy, as treated water will be recycled for agricultural use and treated sludge processed into manure.
The ministry also celebrated a significant victory in disaster management with the formal handover of the Toranke Flood Control Project in Ajingi Local Government Area.
Residents of Toranke had endured decades of annual flooding that frequently resulted in the loss of lives and property.
However, following the completion of the new drainage and stormwater harvesting system, the community recorded zero losses during the last rainy season. The project not only protects the village but also captures runoff to support local irrigation, shielding farmlands from erosion.
On the institutional front, the state government has approved a 100 per cent increase in stipends for the Sanitation Vanguard, raising their monthly pay from ₦15,000 to ₦30,000.
The pay raise comes with a performance-based incentive: personnel will undergo a six-month probationary period. Those who demonstrate commitment and meet the requirements of the Civil Service Commission will be recommended for permanent and pensionable appointments.
This move aims to resolve long-standing agitations for job security while professionalising Kano’s waste management workforce.
Reflecting on the past year, Hashim highlighted that the environment portfolio has been repositioned as a pillar of public safety and sustainable development. Through collaborations with international partners like FCDO (PACE) and UNICEF, the ministry has accelerated interventions in afforestation, erosion control, and climate policy.
“Our focus remains clear,” Hashim stated, “to consolidate the systems we have built, scale delivery, and deepen climate governance across Kano State to secure a sustainable future for all.”
