Kwara Governor Urges Federal Action: Dire Need of Dredging

Ilorin, Kwara State – In a fervent plea to address the pressing issues of food security and recurrent flooding that have taken a toll on human lives and communities along the River Niger and River Benue, Kwara State Governor, Mr. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has called upon the federal government to embark on urgent dredging operations of these vital waterways.

Governor AbdulRazaq made this appeal during a visit by a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, led by the Honourable Minister, Professor Joseph Terlumun Utsev, to the Government House in Ilorin.

The governor voiced his deep concerns about the devastating impact of annual flooding on the nation, particularly on the communities residing along these rivers and their tributaries. He emphasized that dredging the River Niger and River Benue down to the delta is not just a matter of navigation but also a crucial step towards bolstering agriculture and nurturing the marine economy that these rivers could potentially offer.

He stated, “Issues of internally displaced persons are of concerns. People are leaving their traditional abodes because of the water level. We know that on both banks of River Niger and Benue, rice is being farmed a lot. The issue of dredging is not just about navigation. It is also about agriculture and building the marine economy from those rivers.”

Governor AbdulRazaq also commended the Ministry’s support for Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) programs and Open Defecation Free (ODF) initiatives, highlighting the positive impact on the state. He further sought the Ministry’s assistance in implementing a water master plan, a proposal that holds the promise of benefiting Kwara’s residents significantly.

He expressed gratitude, saying, “I commend your ministry for the push on ODF. When we came in 2019, Nigeria overtook Bangladesh as one of the worst cases in ODF, and so we became number one in the world. Kwara was number one in North-central and last worst case in Nigeria. But with the efforts we made with your Ministry, we’ve gone up and we are no longer the worst case in ODF. We thank your Ministry’s support and engagement in that period. We also want to collaborate with and seek assistance from the Ministry on our new water master plan for Kwara.”

Governor AbdulRazaq acknowledged the crucial role played by river basin development authorities in achieving food security and urged them to intensify their efforts.

He said, “Without river basin development authorities, we cannot achieve the level of food security we want to achieve. That is something we really need to do. All your programs on water and sanitation are basically essential things. If we get that right, we will have less traffic in our primary healthcare facilities across the nation. So, your ministry is key to food security, good health, and human capital development.”

In response, Minister Utsev revealed that their visit was part of a nationwide tour aimed at assessing projects and challenges faced by the River Basin Development Authorities (RBDA) for enhanced results, starting with the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority in Ilorin. He sought Governor AbdulRazaq’s support to encourage other governors to engage in RBDA activities.

Minister Utsev stated, “Your Excellency, this is a familiarization visit and assessment of the projects and programs, including challenges of the RBDA in Nigeria. And we are here in Kwara State to start this tour because you are the Chairman Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), and we feel it is important to do that in order to receive your blessings and support.”

He underscored the Ministry’s role in driving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda by promoting food security, improving WASH programs, and strengthening the national economy. Minister Utsev also highlighted their intention to assess ongoing federal government projects in the state and commission those that are completed during their visit.

The call for urgent action to dredge the River Niger and Benue resonates with the imperative of safeguarding lives, property, and the nation’s food security, and it remains to be seen how the federal government responds to this pressing matter.