Disturbed over the perennial flooding in riverine communities along River Niger, a member of the House of Representatives for Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency, Dr Ahmed Adamu Saba, has unfolded his plan to sponsor a bill on the dredging of the river.
He said the legislative framework would be presented on the floor of the lower chamber of the National Assembly as soon as it is ready.
In the interim however, the legislator disclosed that he would raise a motion on the matter in the hallowed chamber of the legislative organ with a view to helping to minimize the adverse effects of the recurrent flood disaster.
Speaking in an interview with The Herald in Ilorin, Saba, who is a member of the House Committee on Appropriation, said the dredging of River Niger was crucial to save lives and belongings of rural dwellers, who are mostly farmers.
He noted that the dredging of the river would not only benefit Kwara residents along the riverbed but also those in Kogi, Anambra, Delta and Kebbi States, calling for quick action on the project.
The House of Representatives member recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his nationwide campaign tour, promised to embark on the dredging of the river.
He noted that stakeholders are meeting in his constituency on the best method to prosecute the dredging of the river so that the perennial losses on the part of farmers could be averted.
“We sat recently at our geopolitical zone caucus meeting where we discussed about the dredging of River Niger. Very soon, we will sponsor a bill or move a motion to make it faster on the floor of the House.
“We know very well that the dredging of the river is part of campaign promises of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to our people. The dredging of the river, we know, is going to stop the recurrence of the annual flooding.
“In another way, we are thinking of meeting with the stakeholders that use River Niger. Like BUA Sugar Company, Lafiagi; Nigeria Sugar Company, Bacita; Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and Sugar Council.
“So, very soon, I want to call the stakeholders’ meeting about it. That bridge of River Niger is not only in Kwara, Kogi and Kebbi States. We know that parts of Anambra, Delta and other places are also inclusive in the river. We are trying to discuss how cost effective the dredging will be. So, there will be a bill or a motion as soon as possible for the dredging of the river”, the legislator said.
Saba said plans are afoot to establish a referral hospital in his constituency with medical team deployed from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital to lend medical support.
He said, “Recently, I met with an agency, and the good news about that meeting is that primary and secondary schools in my constituency will be equipped with ICT facilities and renovation of primary healthcare centres.
“We are proposing to establish a referral hospital in between Tsaragi/Shonga Junction, which would also serve the people of Patigi, Edu and Moro. The referral centre would be linked to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital so that a team of medical personnel from the hospital can be deployed to serve in that place.
“If any minor emergency situation happens in the rural areas, and requires urgent medical attention, the victims will be taken to that centre. That is the kind of things we are facilitating.
“From Share to Patigi, we are facilitating the construction of that road. And not only that one. We also concern ourselves with Lafiagi/Shonga/Bacita Road. We are expecting that within the four years that we will be in the National Assembly, we should be able to bring down dividends of democracy to our people”.
