The Senate requested appropriate government agencies on Wednesday to disburse cash for canal dredging around the country to prevent flooding during this year’s rainy season.
The decision was made after the upper chamber considered a resolution on the urgent need to intervene in flooding crises in Ogun, Kwara, and other parts of the country.
The Senate Majority Whip, Ali Ndume, called the attention of the house to a resolution he had brought in the 9th Assembly on the Development Bank of Nigeria’s uneven disbursement of funds to the six geographical zones.
The 9th Senate after a series of meetings with the bank, the Bank of Industry, the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders, had recommended that the banks should reduce the criteria for accessing the loans particularly for Nigerians in less-developed states.
However, not satisfied with the outcome of the probe by the 9th Senate, Ndume brought up the motion on Wednesday.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio later ruled that the Clerk investigate if the Senate’s recommendations on this matter had been presented to the executive.
Another matter before the Senate on Wednesday was the flooding in different parts of the country.
At the conclusion of the debate, the Senate urged relevant ministries, departments and agencies to release funds for dredging blocked canals.
The Senate also resolved that the proposed construction of dams be revisited to take in excess waters from the Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.