The Senate on Wednesday urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to revisit the proposed construction of Dasin Hausa Dam and any other dam to take in the flood waters from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
The Senate resolution was a sequel to the adoption of a motion on ‘Urgent Need to Intervene in the Flooding Issues in Sagamu, Ijebu areas of Ogun-East and Edu, Patigi areas of Kwara-North, and other parts of the country’, sponsored by Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC Ogun East) and Senator Umar Sadiq Suleiman (APC Kwara North) at the plenary on Tuesday.
In his lead debate, former Ogun State Governor Daniel said that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency had forecast that the level of rainfall in 2023 would surpass that of 2022.
According to him, the 2023 annual flood outlook prepared by Nigeria Hydrological Services showed that 178 local government areas in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) fell within the highly probable flood-risk areas.
He said Lagos, Ogun, and Kwara States, in particular, would witness coastal flooding due to the tidal lock of the Ogun River by Lagos Lagoon from a natural rise in sea level, coupled with the possible release of excessive water from the Oyan dam.
The lawmaker said several communities in Ogun and Kwara States, particularly Owa and ljebu-Ode, Eruwru in Sagamu, and Ebute Kimobi in Ijebu East, all in Ogun-East, with Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas in Kwara-North, would experience the first flash floods due to heavy rainfall between July and November, last year.
He expressed concern that all over Nigeria, downpours had resulted in destruction and deaths as residents on the Island and Mainland in Lagos State were displaced, and business owners and residents were also displaced in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
He said the report indicated a death in Enugu due to a surge, while a 10-year-old child was swept away by a flood in Delta State.
He also said there were devastating erosion effects at Trademore Estate, Lugbe, in Abuja.
He expressed worry that if the impending floods when the rain starts in September to November 2023 were not checked through proper planning, there could be a danger of a huge loss of lives and properties.
According to him, global warming has led to an increase in temperature, thus affecting the coastlines, which has resulted in an increase in the water in the sea.
In his contribution, Senator Isah Jibrin (APC, Kogi East) decried the loss of lives and properties occasioned by floods, adding that there was a need to put in place long-lasting measures to mitigate floods in Nigeria.
Jibrin called for the construction of Dams and dredging to save the lives of Nigerians, just as he also advocated for the relocation of persons living in flood-prone areas, especially in Kogi.
Senator Ireti Kingibe (LP, FCT) said the issue of flooding is particularly urgent in the Federal Capital Territory and suggested “we should look for a permanent solution”, adding that “development control and people concerned should be held responsible.”
Senator Darlington Neokocha (Abia Central, Minority Whip) said senators needed to represent their constituents well and strengthen their oversight functions and not ask, What do we do after it has happened? adding that, “There is no proper oversight, and we have bad roads, insecurity, etc”.
Senator David Umahi (Ebonyi South), who is the Deputy Senate Leader, described the flooding as a “terrible menace.
“We should go for special solutions with engineers leading the way, such as engineering assessment and engineering solutions like the building of dams, where water can be used for irrigation farms in the dry season and the generation of electricity”.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) called on the Senate to “investigate the previous appropriation on dredging of Rivers and building of dams in the country”.
Following intensive debates from senators in support of the motion, the Senate further urged relevant MDAs to release funds as contained in the 2023 budget for the dredging of blocked canals and water bodies, amongst others.
The Senate, therefore, urged the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to revisit the proposed construction of Dasin Hausa Dam and any other dams to take in the flood waters from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon.
