Otherwise known as Matan Fada, venue of the famous Argungu fishing festival, the river had dried up for a while now following the construction of an embankment at a location known as Gurbin Manu in Garin Dabai, Augie Local Government Area of the state.
Consequently, the Matan Fada River as well as streams passing through communities in seven local government areas were affected with negative impact on agriculture, fishing, domestic chores as well as use for human and animal consumption.
On receipt of a letter of complaint from the Emir of Argungu on the issue, Governor Nasir Idris, despatched four Commissioners to accompany water engineers to the spot of the embankment for inspection prelude to designing an appropriate solution to the problem.
According to the Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, a team of water engineers have since been deployed to design a solution that will allow uninterrupted flow of and restore the original nature of the tributary which extends from Matan Fada to Mala, Dukku in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital as well as Bunza before emptying into the River Niger.
The Commissioner for Agriculture, Alhaji Shehu Mu’azu, that of Water Resources, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi Kaoje, the Commissioner for Home Affairs and Security, as well as Alhaji Sama’ila Yakubu Augie and the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Musa Muhammad Tungulawa Wednesday visited the site where the Magajin Garin Kabi, Engineer Aminu Musa appealed to the state government for an immediate intervention.
He told the delegation that the source of water emanating from Goronyo Dam in Sokoto State and flowing into the tributary used to serve Argungu and several other towns and villages, but the diversion of water through the construction of the embarkment had affected the livelihood of hundreds of farmers, fishermen and households.
Speaking in turns, the Commissioners affirmed the commitment of Governor Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu to providing long term remedy by restoring uninterrupted flow of water to the tributary serving all communities thus “the reason behind the engagement of water engineering experts for an immediate solution to the matter”, they assured.
The delegation at a stopover at the Palace of the Emir of Argungu Alhaji Samaila Muhammad Mera assured him of government’s resolve to restore free flow of water to the Matan Fada and the other tributaries that serve communities bordering them.
In response, the Monarch, Alhaji Sama’ila Muhammad Mera, sincerely thanked the governor for his commitment to solving the problem of water diversion thus bringing succour to the farming and fishing communities along the tributary.