The Benue State government has called on the Senate to prevail on the Federal Government to quicken the dredging of River Benue in order to curtail annual flooding in the state.
Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Benson Abounu, made the call on Tuesday in Makurdi when he received the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Flood led by Senator David Umaru.
He said the senate had the voice to lend to such matter of urgent public importance as he expressed optimism that the federal government would listen and bring the project much talked about by successive government into fruition.
The deputy governor also disclosed to the senate committee that the state requires the intervention of the federal government in the area of ecological funds to aid construction of drainage channels in many affected places.
He restated the position of the state government to relocate all those that had built houses near the river banks and water channels to higher ground locations as part of deliberate measures to forestall flooding in the state.
Earlier, the Leader of the delegation, Senator Umaru, said they were directed by the senate to visit Benue following a motion raised by Senator Barnabas Gemade drawing attention to the devastation caused residents in the state by the flood.
He however announced the decision of the senate to come up with a legislation or any other action that could help avert further flooding in the state.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.