… call on Tinubu for special intervention in dredging waterways
By Joy Odor
The Senator, representing Kogi Central Federal constituency in the National Assembly, Abubakar Ohere has bemaoned that Kogi State remains the Headquaters of flooding problem in Nigeria
The Lawmaker made this known to Senate correspondent shortly after plenary on Wednesday in Abuja after his contributions on the motion titled: “Ugent Need to Intervene in the Flooding Issues in Sagamu, Ijebu areas of Ogun-East and Edu, Patigi areas of Kwara- Noth and other parts of the country” sponsored by Sen. Gbenga Daniel (Ogun East) and Sen. Umar, Sadiq Suleiman (Kwara North).
Senator Ohere during his contributions appealed to President Bola Tinubu urgent need for special intervention, such that will clear the waterways particularly from Warri to Ajaokuta, from Ajaokuta to Lokoja, and from Lokoja to Baro and carry out proper dredging of Rivers and building of dams that will sustain it.
According to him, if there is proper dredging of dams across waterway in the country by the Federal government, flooding menace will be reduced to the barest minimum.
The Kogi East Senator also recommended that there should be small dams build along the waterways, particularly Lokoja up to Ajaokuta towards Basa end such that it would be taking off the bunden volume of water that are excess, saying the water can be utilised during dry season farming.
Ohere maintained that, if the government clear waterway, it can improve the water and transportation system which is why the Federal government set up the Inland Waterways Authority’s headquarters in Lokoja.
“What we are appealing to Mr. President through our motions and contributions in the chamber is that we need special intervention, such that will clear the waterways particularly from Warri to Ajakuta, from Ajakuta to Lokoja, and from Lokoja to Baro and carry out proper drenching that will sustain it and this flooding menace will be reduced to the barest minimum.
“We have also recommended in our contributions that there should be small small dams along the waterways, particularly Lokoja up to Ajakuta towards Basa-Nge such that it will be taking off the volume of water that are in excess so that this water can be utilised during dry season farming.
“Then in another way, we are very hopeful that if we clear our waterway, we can improve our water and transportation system and that is why the Federal government set up the Inland Waterways Authority’s headquarters in Lokoja and this is what we are canvassing for and because of this challenge, the state government have committed huge sums of money on its maintenance” he said.
Speaking on the building collapse, the Lawmaker opined that the issue of building collapse is becoming worrisome, and a national issue emanating from the poor quality of materials.
He explained that as part of the building collapse, Senate resolved that while Nigeria is having poor building materials in the market is because she do not have proper production of iron and steel, noting that whatever is being imported, are taken as it.
Ohere urged government to strengthen the monitoring agencies the Council for the Regulation of Engineers in Nigeria (COREN), Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) and others involved in monitoring buildings and identify such buildings that are prone to collapse such that they can carry out tests on them in order to save lives and properties.
Kogi East Senator emphasized that If Ajaokuta is reinstated and revamped, Nigeria should be able to produce its own iron rods effectively.
“Yesterday, we were able to move a motion that the issue of building collapse is becoming worrisome, it is becoming a national issue and the problem is emanating from the poor quality of materials” he said.
“The government should strengthen the monitoring agencies that are involved in monitoring the buildings and identify such buildings that are prone to collapse such that we can carry out tests on them in order to save lives and properties.
Yesterday, on the part of this building collapse, we also recommended that while we are having poor materials in the market is because we don’t have proper production of these iron and steel, Whatever is being imported, people just take it like that.
“The abandoned Ajaokuta Steel Project has made the builders resorted to cutting corners with attendant tragedy of structure collapse.
It is a worthy project that will facilitate development of the country across the various sectors and most importantly, serve as panacea for the incessant problem of building collapse in the country through production of quality and affordable iron and steel builders and construction firms.
“Completion of Ajaokuta will also facilitate industrialisation of the country as well as solved the problem of epileptic power supply with electricity generation from its already completed Thermal Plant .
“Ajaokuta Steel Project needs federal attention and l believe that before President Bola Tinubu clocks 100 days in office. he will give the required attention for its completion.
If Ajaokuta is reinstated and revamped, we should be able to able to produce our own iron rods effectively” Ohere stressed.
