Flooding: Dredge Rivers Niger, Benue Now, Senate Tells President Tinubu

The Senate has asked President Bola Tinubu to direct the immediate dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue, as part of preventive measures against flooding.

It also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately reach out to affected communities and provide relief materials to victims. Additionally, the President was asked to facilitate dredging of both rivers in the 2025 budget.

The Upper Chamber equally asked the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to intervene in the rehabilitation of Shuwa, Jigalambu, and Baladega Bridge and mandated the committee on legislative compliance to ensure NEMA and FERMA carried out its resolution.

Recall that early this year, the Senate had at an emergency session, equally resolved to facilitate the inclusion of the dredging of Rivers Niger, Benue, and other river projects in the 2024 Appropriation Bill. The plan was expected to help combat recurring flooding and its debilitating effects around the country.

Resolutions of the Senate yesterday were sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Amos K. Yohanna, PDP, Adamawa North.

Presenting the motion, Senator Yohanna noted that there was massive flooding that caused catastrophic destruction in the five local governments of Adamawa North senatorial district, including Madagali, Maiha, Michika, Mubi North, and Mubi South, which destroyed hundreds of houses and farmlands.

He said: “The Senate notes that there was massive flooding that caused catastrophic destruction in the five local governments of Adamawa North senatorial district.

“Further notes that hundreds of houses and farmlands were destroyed. The floods also washed away multiple culverts and bridges in Shuwa (Madagali LGA), Jigalambu, Watu, Kudzum (Michika LGA), and the Baladega Bridge, along Mubi-Maiha road.

“More tragically is the fact that some lives were lost.

“Aware that the flooding situation has overwhelmed local capacities and left thousands of people in dire need of urgent humanitarian assistance in Kirchinga, Shuwa, and Gulak (Madagali LGA), Dzuragu (Michika LGA), Mayo Bani (Mubi North LGA), Konkol (Maiha LGA), including shelter, food, medical care, and clean water.

“Disturbed that this worsens the already difficult economic and security situation affecting the people and will relapse in internally displaced persons, IDPs, tragedy as thousands of displaced people are currently taking refuge in schools.”