Floods: Reps Want Major Dams, Rivers Dredged

The House of Representatives has called for dredging significant dams and rivers to avert floods across the country.

Consequently, the House urged the Federal Ministries of Water Resources and Environment to direct the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency to evaluate the drainage control system framework to achieve the desired result.

This was a sequel to the adoption of the motion moved by the member representing Zaki Federal Constituency of Bauchi state, Hon. Mohammed Dan-Abba Shehu, at plenary on Wednesday.

The lawmaker moved the motion, noting that dredging of major dams and rivers in the country is essential to reducing the incidence of floods ravaging farmers‘ crops.

According to him, the government‘s negligence in supporting farmers‘ efforts to address flooding has hindered the implementation of an adequate action plan, which would enhance drainage system mechanisms to control flooding in the country.

Dan-Abba expressed worry that negligence has led to inadequate drainage systems, insufficient flood control measures, a lack of support for farmers‘ adaptation to climate change, inadequate compensation for farmers‘ losses, and inefficient water resource management.

He noted that developed countries like the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and South Africa have made flood control through proper drainage sustainability a key objective of their administration to safeguard the environment, improve food security, and ensure food sustainability.

Dan-Abba said: „Proper dredging of major dams and rivers will encourage irrigation farming, which will, in turn, yield abundant food production for domestic consumption and exportation, consequently contributing to economic development; however, annual flooding is destroying farmers’ efforts, causing losses worth billions of dollars and high risk of excessive flooding due to government inaction.“

He expressed worry that 80% of Nigerian farmers have suffered significant crop losses, leading to debt and exit from the farming business. Most farmers who obtain loan facilities from financial institutions find it difficult to pay back due to flood-related losses.

The lawmaker said: „Statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that in 2018, floods destroyed crops worth 756 billion Naira; in 2019, destroyed crops worth 890 billion Naira; and in 2020,
destroyed over N1.2 trillion.

The statistics from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that in 2018 and 2019, floods destroyed crops worth over seven hundred and fifty-six billion naira and 1 trillion, respectively, thus affecting over 80% of farmers.

Government‘s intervention in dam and river drainage could have injected lost resources into the economy for economic growth and development in the country.

Dredging major dams and rivers in Nigeria will prevent flood disasters, protect lives and properties, and promote sustainable water resource management to enhance water storage capacity and circulation.“