Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole on Wednesday called for a probe of previous funds appropriated for the dredging of River Niger.
Oshiomhole expressed disappointment that despite huge sums of fund appropriated by the previous administration for enhancing effective waterways transportation and containment of flooding nothing close to drainage have been seen..
He spoke during the plenary on Wednesday after he was allowed by the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio to give additional prayers on a motion titled: “Urgent Need to Intervene in the Flooding Issues in Sagamu, Ijebu Areas of Ogun East Senatorial District.”
The lawmaker maintained that it would be unwise of the upper legislative chamber to keep appropriating funds that cannot be accounted for, even when the said funds were not dispensed for the purpose they were set for, insisting that the 10th Senate should investigate the previous government.
Oshiomhole said: “Mr President, my name is Senator Adams Oshiomhole representing the good people of Edo North Senatorial District. I want to remind this Chamber that huge sums of money were appropriated for River Niger dredging in the past but it appears nothing was done. We need to investigate.
“It will be unwise for the parliament to keep appropriating every year and the money is not properly utilized.”
Meanwhile, Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, in a sponsored motion, called for intervention in the flood ravaging Edu and Patigi Areas in Kwara North Senatorial District and other parts of the country.
The lawmaker raised the alarm that there would be an unmitigated catastrophe if there was no fast intervention, given that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMET) has forecasted there would be an upsurge of rainfall in 2023 above that of last year.
The prayers which he sought for and were adopted are: “Constitution an Ad-hoc Committee to liaise with relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to put in place erosion prevention and management mechanisms.
“Urge relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to release funds for dredging of blocked canals and water bodies amongst others.
“Urge the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to revisit the proposed construction of Dasin Hausa Dam and any other Dams as the case may be to take in the flood waters from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun.”
Senator Oshiomhole calls for probe of funds allocated for River Niger dredging
