By correspondent.
Sen.Abubakar Ohere.
The Senator Representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Sen. Abubakar Ohere, has recommended that the panacea to the nation’s perennial flooding is the sustainable dredging of the nation’s waterways and creations of small irrigation dams along waterways.
Sen. Ohere who made the recommendation at plenary while contributing to the motion of urgent national importance, on the annual flooding challenges across the country, also suggested construction of irrigation dams in Kotonkarfe, Lokoja, Bassa, Ajaokuta and other parts of the State usually affected by flooding.
The Senator made special case for funding support to States prone to flooding,with an urge to the Senate to declare the menace a national challenge.
He sought the leave of the Senate to consider special funding support for Kogi State and all other states that are prone to annual flooding challenges,noting that nearly half of the local governments in kogi State are submerged annually owing to the flooding challenges.
Sen. Ohere, who recalled his experience while serving as a Commissioner for Works in Kogi State, giving insight into the burden of pre and post flooding challenges, especially on the critical assets of government such as roads, bridges, said the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue In lokoja had made kogi State the headquarters of the annual flooding in Nigeria.
Sen. Ohere citing the flooding menace as it affects the State, beginning from Koton Karfe up to Ganaja roads, recommended that with irrigation dams in Kotonkarfe, Lokoja, Bassa, Ajaokuta and other parts of the State, dry season farming would be enhanced.
Sen. Ohere who commended Sen. Otunba Gbenga Daniel for moving the motion, however, pleaded that the scope of the motion be expanded to cover the entire country,arguing that “the situation is the same everywhere, therefore canvassed centralized approach solutions.”
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
