Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called on the Federal Government to expedite the dredging of the Rivers Niger and Benue to mitigate annual flooding and human losses along their banks and tributaries, as well as promote food security.
Speaking at the Government House in Ilorin while receiving a delegation of top officials from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, led by Minister Professor Joseph Terlumun, he expressed concerns about the human and material damages caused by annual flooding, especially in communities living along the tributaries.
Governor AbdulRazaq said one of the main challenges he wants the ministry to address is the dredging of the Rivers Niger and Benue down to the Delta.
He said, “‘It is essential for the Ministry to start that immediately because of the damages it is causing to the national economy and food security.
“Issues of internally displaced persons are of concern. People are leaving their traditional abodes because of the water level. We know that on both banks of River Niger and Benue, rice is being farmed extensively.
“Two years ago, we saw how OLAM Farm in Benue State was devastated. The issue of dredging is not just about navigation. It is also about agriculture and building the marine economy from those rivers.”
AbdulRazaq commended the Ministry for their ongoing support for the country, particularly the state, with regard to the successful Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programmes and achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status.
He also sought the Ministry’s assistance for the smooth implementation of a water master plan proposed by the state government, emphasizing that their collaboration is key to achieving the set goals.
The Governor acknowledged the significant role of river basin development authorities in achieving food security and encouraged them to further contribute to this effort.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, mentioned that they are in the state to initiate a nationwide tour of projects, programmes, and assessments of the challenges facing the River Basin Development Authorities, aiming for improved results, starting with the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin.
The Minister sought AbdulRazaq’s support to use his position as NGF Chairman to encourage his colleagues to also engage in the activities of River Basin Development Authorities across the federation.
“Your Excellency, this is a familiarization visit and an assessment of the projects and programmes, including the challenges faced by the River Basin Development Authorities in Nigeria. We have chosen to start this tour in Kwara state because you are the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and we feel it is important to seek your blessings and support.
“During this visit to the state, we also aim to assess ongoing federal government projects in the state and commission those that are completed. The federal government has constructed various projects for irrigation, water supply, hydropower, and other empowerment programs,” he concluded.”
