The Senate has resolved to enable the inclusion of River Benue dredging and other river projects in the 2024 Appropriation Bill in order to alleviate chronic floods and its multifaceted impacts.
The lawmakers also urged President Bola Tinubu to expedite the construction of dams, particularly the Dasin Hausa Dam slated for Fufore Local Government Area in Adamawa State, to reduce the risk of excessive flooding from Cameroon’s Lagdo Dam.
They also urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to the victims of the flood and embark on enlightenment on the dangers of crossing rivers before or after rainfall.
These resolutions come against the backdrop of perennial flooding caused by floods and undredged River Benue. According to NEMA, in 2022 alone, over 2.41 million people were displaced and over 600 fatalities were recorded with hectares of farmland across the affected states swept off.
The Senate has now dissolved into an executive session.