By Lami Ibrahim
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 made the recommendation today at plenary while contributing to the motion of urgent national importance on the annual flooding challenges across the country, suggested irrigation dams in Kotonkarfe, Lokoja Bassa, Ajaokuta and other parts of the State usually affected by flooding.
Sen. Ohere made special case for funding support to States prone to flooding, urged the Senate to declare the menace a national challenge.
Sen. Ohere 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, explained how 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 explained 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 has made kogi State the headquarters of the annual flooding in Nigeria.
Sen. Ohere citing the flooding menace as it effects 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 since the situation is the same everywhere, therefore canvassed centralized approach solutions.
