Senate Bemoan Sokoto, Kebbi, Jigawa Flooding
ABUJA, Sept 29, (THEWILL) - The Senate today decried the recent flood disasters that ravaged Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa states while it directed its committees on Water Resources, Agriculture, Environment and Works to undertake a tour of the affected flood disaster areas in Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa states to assess the losses and recommend remedial measures to forestall any future occurrence of such disaster.
The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Umaru Dahiru and 23 others. They noted with sadness the calamity which befell Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa states in the month of September, 2010, as a result of the collapse of the spill-ways of Goronyo, Lugu, Challawa and Tiga Dams resulting in the deaths and displacement of persons, livestock as well as loss of properties.
It further noted that Goronyo Dam is now 18 years old and was designed to store 942 million cubic meters of water while Tiga is 34 years old and designed to store two (2) billion cubic meters of water.
The Senate stated that roads, bridges and culverts linking Nigeria and Niger Republic and many Truck A and B roads were cut off by the flood including the Usman Danfodio University and its community, adding that half of Sokoto State was cut off from the state capital and has become inaccessible for days.
It revealed that so far the federal government had released the sum of one billion, seven hundred and fifty million naira only (N1, 750, 000, 000.00) to Sokoto and Kebbi state governments to assist in the rehabilitation and resettlement of persons affected by the flood.
Many lives, according to the Senate were lost with 2, 000, 000 persons displaced from their homes and 400 villages washed away including a large number of livestock in 34 local government areas while 1,000, 000 hectares of land with crops went under water with financial losses running into billions of naira.
The Senate further noted that Sokoto, Kebbi and Jigawa state governments have provided N500, 000, 000, N400, 000, 000 and N270, 000, 000 respectively to assist the displaced persons.
It commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his rapid response to the problem by visiting the affected areas, approving financial grant and directing the military to build Bailey bridge in order to restore communication and contact with the university and its community.