Don’t cause confusion in NDDC, group warns N’Delta Minister over appointment acting MD

The South-South Emerging Leaders Forum (SELF) has cautioned the Minister of Niger Delta, Mr, Umana Umana, not to cause unnecessary confusion in the appointment of new Sole Administrator for the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

President Muhammadu Buhari, had relieved the Interim Administrator of NDDC, Mr. Effiong Akwa, of his position and directed the most senior director in the commission over the running of its affairs.

The minister subsequently announced Mr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, to perform the duties of the managing director in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director and members of the Governing Board.

But in a statement signed Thursday in Abuja by its coordinator, Barr. Preye Johnson, the group said the director appointed by the Minister to succeed the sacked administrator “is not the most senior director as directed by the President. In fact, there are two most senior directors ahead of him.”

The forum named the said most qualified senior directors to include Seigha Glasgow and Prince Alazigha.

The South-south forum, however threatened to drag the minister to Court if the right thing is not done based on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to forum, if the injustice melted against the most senior directors are not corrected there will be no proper growth in the the Commission and the most senior directors will be disrespected.

The statement also urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to recognise and allow for the change of signature Mr. by Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua.

The statement said: “As a frontline forum of professionals in the Niger Delta, we are using this medium to call on the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umana Okon Umana, to do the right thing and avoid unnecessary confusion at the NDDC by appoint the most senior director as directed by Mr. President.

“We are making this call because the appointment of Mr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua is in contrary to the directive of the President and it is in the public knowledge that there are two most senior directors ahead of Mr. Mr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua.

“We hereby call on the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) not to recognise or allow for the change of signature by Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua as the acting Managing Diractor of NDDC because he is not the most senior Director in the Commission as stated in the letter signed by the Ministry of Niger Delta and dated 20th October 2022.

“Apart from the CBN, we call on the National Assembly not to have anything to do with the leadership of Mr. Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua as NDDC’s acting helmsman.

“We also warn that if the right thing is not done we shall have no option than to approach the Court of Law to correct the injustice,” the statement said.

Alleged KWIRS Contract: Publication baseless, politically motivated – Prof. Awodun

By Matthew Denis Abuja

To put the record straight, the pioneer and Immediate past Executive Chairman of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), Prof. Muritala Awodun has debunked the allegation making round on how he used his company to secure contract of the service.

Recalled that an online publication alleged that the former KWIRS Chief, Muritala Awodun, Reportedly Indicted For Abuse Of Office using his company- CSDC .

In a Communique made available to our Correspondent yesterday Prof. Awodun said “My atention has been drawn to a faceless publication with the caption “How Prof. Awodun used personal company to secure KWIRS contract under him: investigation” by Salient Times and other politically sponsored online media.

“First my reaction to such a baseless and clueless claim would have been to ignore it, but for the fact that this is a political era, and we need to put out there, facts and truth and do not allow the perpetrators of falsehood to have their way. The need to also ensure that allowing falsehood thrive is a disservice to humanity and our state.

” The claim of this faceless publication is false as Awodun is not the owner or co-owner of the company in question. The records of companies and their ownership in Nigeria are publicly available on the website of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and Awodun has never been, in any way owner, shareholder or director to the company.

“For the avoidance of doubts, having left KWIRS, almost four years now, and having been dragged to the EFCC by the present government, there could be no better way to investigate this than that, unless the government is doubting the investigative capacities of the EFCC”

The Communique emphasized that Awodun having completed his tenure successfully on September 30, 2019 became free from public service and free to be engaged by any firm, so getting engaged by CSDC Systems Solutions Limited after his tenure as a Chief Operating Officer (Chief Revenue Consultant) is an exercise of his freedom, and in recognition of his expertise and capacities.

“It is on record that Awodun was not only open and transparent in his running of the Service during his tenure, but devoted the four years to building an enduring institution for Kwara State.

” It’s also noted that Prof. Awodun was an advocate of capacity and institution building, as he not only demonstrated that by building KWIRS from the scratch, but ensured it is established on best global practices that earned the organization international certification on its processes.

“This is irrespective of the persistent growth in revenue during the four-year period (moving the revenue of the state from N7.2billion in 2015 to N30.1billion in 2019).

“What Awodun achieved with KWIRS during his period there, is an experience that no one can take away from him, and his experience and expertise would always be sought after by states and organizations that requires it. It is simply a matter of when you do it well, you will do well, irrespective of what your detractors may say. For four years, what Awodun did is out there in the public domain for all to see”

Lawyer gives two conditions to OGSOSA 2000 set Member on Character defamation

A popular Lawyer and Developmental Activist, Barr. Temi Nuruddin Salami (SABO) and Others has given two conditions to a member of Offa Grammar School Old Students Association (OGSOSA), Luqman AbdulQadir(Alhaji) over defamation of character against him Among others.

Recalled that AbdulQadir had defamed Barr. Sabo and others on the group Whatsapp platform of OGSOSA 2000 set recently.

This is contained in a statement signed by Barr. Temi Salami Nuruddin (Sabo) and made available to Newsmen on Monday.

The statement captured a reconciliatory meeting initiated by OGSOSA Executives led by the President, Mrs. Funmilayo kachiro which commenced around 8:20am and ended 12.45pm was focused on resolving the defamatory issue but AbdulQadir couldn’t substantial his utterance with fact.

“We want to state specifically that LUQMAN ABDULQADIR(Alhaji) couldn’t establish anything against Barr. Temi Salami Nuruddin (Sabo) when he was asked to justify his claims. since he said on Ogsosa2000 set WhatsApp platform that he has plethora of evidence to back his claims. He also denied that he never libel SABO as “untrustworthy”.

His actions was condemned by Ogsosa president and every other participant at the meeting.LUQMAN ABDULQADIR (Alhaji)also couldn’t justify his wide allegations against ABDULSALAM LUKMAN(Atinga).

The lawyer has given AbdulQadir two conditions to avoid a suit for criminal defamation of character after Mrs. Funmilayo Kachiro president (Ogsosa 2000 set) begged on his behalf.

” Barr. T.N.S (SABO) requested AbdulQadir to write a letter of retraction addressed to him or seek redress in court for criminal defamation of character.

On his part, Mr. ABDULSALAM LUQMAN has requested AbdulQadir to send another voicenote on OGSOSSA 2000 set platform to retract his defamatory statement against him.

The statement added “we have confidence that LUQMAN ABDULQADIR will meet those conditions in 3 days to avoid legal action against him”.

A people-oriented representation can only be found in Barr Lawal, Adamawa concerned citizen says

The People of Yola South, Yola North, and Girei Federal constituency of Adamawa State were given a hopeful assurance that the New Nigeria people’s party’s candidate hoping to represent the area in the national assembly, Barrister Lawal Garba is the Man with much assurance to represent well.

Adamawa concerned citizen who is a staunch loyalist of (NNPP) and a Youth mobilizer, Comrade Adamu Gambo reiterated Lawal’s commitment to selfless service for humanity as the only Man that is honest to give a hopeful representation for the people of the area.

Jimeta revealed that Garba is a renowned philanthropist who over the years has built an empire of social support for many communities in Adamawa State with his people -oriented representation.

With this attitude of his he is no doubt a Man with the requisite leadership qualities to be supported for the noble job of representation because he was there, and did it to the best of his abilities, bringing many dividends of democracy to his constituents.

He said among all those dreaming of becoming the next House of Representatives (HoR) Member in the National Assembly of the green chambers Barrister Garba’s political goodwill surpassed theirs and is better than them all.

According to him Lawal is already doing the legislative job before being elected again for the second term, his hubby is to change the storyline of the electorates by giving them good representation more than the one they have tasted during his first term.

Garba said there is a politician and there are other politicians, some are not political leaders but they are jobbers who are good at merchandising the destiny of the electorates, but Lawal stand it all, he is a leader who is out to salvage their constituency by giving them economy power, political power, socioeconomic power and many others.

He enjoined well-meaning individuals from the Constituency to give Honourable Lawal Garba the push of Victory in the coming 2023 election because he remains the best candidate to beat.

“Let me tell you, we are never in the valley of decision that knowing the right Man for the job of legislation will be difficult for us to know. We have decided on Lawal Garba because he is the best among the rest. He has been tasted and found trusted. He is our known devil who is far better than the angels we’ve never known.

” This Man is our prime candidate, is the superior aspirant among all those thinking their way to the National Assembly, he has what it takes, he got the intellectual ability to defend, protect, and voice whatever it is in the interest of our people.

“Garba is our choice of interest, no two ways about it. NNPP is the way forward and the party to win elections in Adamawa state.” Adamu said

Adamu who granted an interview in Yola to our correspondent, however, called on the NNPP family to unite the amidst political wind that is blowing trying to scatter the party because of divergence interests.

Rivers: Wike’s claim of exclusion by Atiku lacks truthfulness – PDP group

A pro-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) known as PDP Young Stakeholders, Lagos branch has attacked Rivers state governor Nysome Wike over his comments that the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar did not consult him before appointing members from Rivers State into his campaign council.

The group said governor Wike’s claim lack the merit of truthfulness.

In a statement released Monday evening in Abuja, in reaction to Wike’s claim of exclusion from PDP PCC, signed by Dr Tai Oyekan, Governor Wike can be likened to a prodigal son who took his inheritance in annoyance.

Oyekan said: “To put the records straight, and which can be corroborated by every stakeholder in the party, that the PDP and its presidential candidate consulted all governors and leaders in each state before nominating members into the presidential campaign council.

“Whereas all state governors made nominations into the council, it was only in Rivers State that the governor refused to forward his nominations into the council. It was therefore upon the refusal of the governor that the PDP and its presidential candidate went ahead by their own discretion to make nominations into the council.

“It is public knowledge that Governor Wike has gone amok with the party since is failure to emerge as presidential candidate of the party and has stated, publicly also, that he will not cooperate with the party in our presidential campaign.

“Governor Wike can be likened to a prodigal son who took his inheritance in annoyance. But we are hopeful that the party, as father to all, will have rectitude to receive to accept Governor Wike bad as a prodigal son whenever he return in penitence.

“But before then, we wish to admonish Governor Wike that for the purpose of posterity, he should desist from telling lies against the PDP and leaders of the party. Nigeria operates a democratic politics and that means that Governor Wike has the rights of participation or otherwise. Be that as it may, however, he alone does not approximate River State.

“There are respected leaders who have made their marks in life and politics and are indigenes of Rivers State. We consider it inglorious on the part of the governor that he would describe such people as ‘enemies of Rivers State’ only because they refuse to be a party of his solo-travel to political obscurity.

“We also want to urge members of the PDP in Rivers and everywhere else, that the party is cohesive and there are many groups, like ours, who are ready to work assiduously for the success of the party in all levels of the election next year.”

Group Explains Reasons Sylva is Nigeria’s Best Petroleum Minister

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva has been rated as the best performing Minister of Petroleum for ensuring landmark transformation and sustained Growth of National Nigerian Petroleum Company(NNPC) Ltd .

The northern based Nigerian Energy Accountability Forum (NEAF),which gave reasons for picking Sylva said it is important to identify and acknowledge leaders, who have performed and delivered on mandate of public office.

According to the group, for example ,the recent signings for laying of Gas Pipelines from Nigeria-Morocco and Algeria are project initiatives that requires commendation .

“The Project is aimed at monetization of Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources will help generate additional revenue for the Country; diversification of gas export routes, and eliminating gas flaring.” It added .

In a press Statement issued and signed by the Coordinator, Engineer Ibrahim Mohammed Biu ,the group which revealed this said President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice of Chief Timipre Sylva as Petroleum Minister was the best decision made by his administration .

While commending the Minister for the efforts made to ensure local sufficiency in refined petroleum products with the first phase of the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery at advanced stage of completion , it said failure to recognize performance and capacity of individuals who have done well is largely responsible for bad leadership .

“We all know that the ongoing rehabilitation of Port Harcourt refinery, if completed next year will boost internal supply, create more jobs and enhance economic development “.It stressed .

It however said the decision of the Minister to increase crude oil production to 3million barrels per day (mbd/d) with commencement of operation of the TotalEnergies’ Ikike Oil Field, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State is a right step for development .

The group in the Statement also noted that: “The signing of PIB into on the 16th of August 2021 introduced important changes to the governance, administrative, regulatory and fiscal framework of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.

” The bill (Section 54) proposed that the Minister of State, Petroleum, Timipre Sylva and the Minister of Finance should incorporate the NNPC Limited and determine the assets and liabilities that will be assumed by the new entity and this was swiftly done .

“Another milestone is achieved by his leadership is the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Natural Gas Pipeline is a pipeline planned to transport natural gas from Ajaokuta, in Kogi State to Kano, in Kano State, through several states and urban centers, as part of the Trans Nigeria Gas Pipeline. Construction of the AKKP commenced in July 2020

“The 614km-long natural gas pipeline,will result in the establishment of a connecting pipeline network between the eastern, western and northern regions of Nigeria.

“It also aims to create a steady and guaranteed gas supply network between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria by utilising the country’s widely available gas resources.”

Academics Ask FG to Scrap NNPC, Query N788bn Spent on Salaries, Entertainment

… Says Company has become liability

Apparently worried about the annual expenditure of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, group of lecturers under aegis of Academics for Accountable Governance Group (AAGG) declared as unacceptable the situation where whooping amount of N788bn was spent on Salaries; Forex, Entertainment, Other expenses .

It also challenged NNPC Ltd to explain to Nigerians how it made a net profit of N674bn and spent N788.7 billion on salary, entertainment and other costs.

According to the academics, there is no place in the world, where a major oil and gas producing company would have its expenditure greater than income.

“It against this disturbing background that as a group of concerned Nigerians , we decided to join Kaduna State Governor ,Mal.Nasir El-Rufai ;the former Emir of Kano ,Alh. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to ask the federal government to immediately scrap NNPC and sell it to individuals ,who can manage it effectively .

The group which disclosed this in a press statement jointly signed by the Coordinator; Professor Fahad Muhammad, Secretary, Dr. Ogundipe Ogunbiyi and Publicity Secretary,Professor Chuka Nwaneri, said it is economically illogical to continue to declare a ‘mirage’ of profit when expenditures get higher than incomes .

In the statement, the group which queried why the salary of staff kept rising without any productive activities in the refineries said, ” The situation where salary spent shows that N236bn spent in 2021 is higher than the N212bn spent in 2020 ;and where Pension took N150bn, a decrease from the N182bn spent the previous year is beyond human comprehension .

“Most unfortunate is the huge emolument cost at a time when the company has been commercialized with experts expecting a downsize in staff.

“We read some media reports that N81bn was spent on exchange loss, the cost of converting its oil earnings to local currency which rose by 100 per cent from the N42bn spent in 2020.”

“We consider it worrisome that NNPC wrote off N71bn for asset depreciation, allegedly spent N11bn on entertainment, blew N46bn on legal and professional fees, spent N390m on its directors with the officials spending N10bn on travels and most disturbing, is the N20bn it spent on fines and penalty.

“Overall, the company said it recorded over N6.4trillion income which was higher than the N3.7trn it made earlier. While it spent N5.3trn In 2021 as cost of sales of petroleum products, nnpc spent N3.6trn in 2020.

“From all Indications, It’s obvious that the national oil company is longer viable and should sold and proceeds used to diversify the economy.”

Linus Okorie: Call Umahi to order, sack Ebonyi CP now, Ebonyi group tells Buhari, IGP

The Association of Ebonyi Indigenes Socio-Cultural In Diaspora (AEISCID) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently call to order the governor of Ebonyi state, Dave Umahi, over the arrest of a two-term former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Linus Okorie, in the state.

The group also called on the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to sack the Ebonyi state commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, for bringing the force into disrepute.

Okorie was reportedly abducted last weekend and severely tortured and then later handed over to the authorities of the Nigerian Police Force, Ebonyi State Command.

Reacting to the development through a statement released Thursday in Abuja, by the AEISCID President, Ambassador Pascal Oluchchukwu, condemned “the gestapo style in which Hon. Okorie was violently abducted, severely tortured and then later handed over to the police.

The group said it was privy to mainstream and social media reports on the incident including the tensions generated by protests from youths and women groups in Onicha-Igboeze and Ugwulangwu communities and of course, the Ebonyi Police Command’s press statement which listed among other allegations; illicit drug deals, character assassination, armed robbery, murder among others against the person of Okorie.

“Knowing the character persona of Governor Umahi and his despicable desperation to be in Nigeria’s 10th Senate even if it entails truncating democracy and governance in Ebonyi state, this group as a foremost governance and accountability platform in Ebonyi is worried that like we have always alarmed, Umahi and his APC warriors want to plunge our beloved State into an emergency rule through the use of Ebubeagu Security Network- an illegally armed body which had been ordered never to participate in any activities of the 2023 general elections.

“They have not only lost their popularity among the Ebonyi electorates a long time ago, they are now very determined to crush and grind anyone they perceive as a threat to their dangerous ambitions. Knowing that the APC Candidates in Ebonyi are widely unacceptable having been imposed by Umahi against the old APC members, the Governor and his evil schemers seem very desperate to foist them on Ebonyians through the instrumentality of the guns and large-scale violence using the ignoble Ebubeagu militia.

“Otherwise, how can the world explain the downright dehumanization of Okorie simply because he habours an ambition to vie for the Ebonyi South Senatorial seat in 2023 under the platform of the Labour Party against a very desperate Umahi? Why is Gov. Umahi afraid of facing the electorates in his Ebonyi South Senatorial zone especially when he claims to have done marvelously well for the people as an incumbent Governor?

“AEISCID as a group is even more troubled that State institutions such as the Nigeria Police Force, the Ebonyi Judiciary and others are enobbling these ugly and undemocratic conducts of Umahi. Saner minds had expected that the Nigerian Police, Ebonyi State Command should have been more professional rather than act a dangerous script handed over it by the agents of Ebonyi State government.”

While demanding immediate release of Hon. Okorie, the state said: “Assuming without conceding that Hon. Okorie was indeed arrested by Ebubeagu as claimed by the Police who by it’s Press release on the dastardly incident sheepishly acted like the official Spokesmen of the armed Ebubeagu militia group, why did it take them almost 24 hours to hand their victim over to the authorities of the Nigerian Police Force?

“The Ebonyi Police Command had curiously labelled many spurious allegations such as but not limited to; illicit drug deals, publication of false information, among others against Okorie in it’s Press release. Why then were those allegations dropped in the charge sheet they used to charge Okorie to Court?

“But for acting an anti-democratic script handed it by Umahi, how could the Police have charged Okorie before a Magistrate Court which has no proper jurisdiction so he could have been granted bail to face Umahi’s trumped up charges? These all points to the compromises of the Ebonyi Police Command under the CP, Aliyu Garba, the lackeys appointed as Magistrates and Judges in Ebonyi State Judiciary and indeed, the desperate foot-soldiers in Umahi’s government.”

The Ebonyi group, however, demanded “immediate sack of the Ebonyi State’s Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba by the Inspector General of Police for becoming a worrisome stooge in the hands of an insipidly desperate Governor Umahi. This body further demands the unconditional release of Hon. Okorie who has been immensely traumatized by this very sad incident.

“And for Umahi, AEISCID urges President Buhari to call him and his APC goons to order before they totally derail our maturing democracy with their desperate and dangerous ambitions!”

Group Blasts El-Rufai, Sanusi over ‘Careless Outbursts’ on Scrapping of NNPC

…Says criticism out of tune with present day realities

Kaduna based Political group, Buhari Votes Guard and Awareness (BVGA) has replied the the 14th Emir of Kano ,Alh. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Governor of Kaduna State, Mal. Nasir El-Rufai on what it described as ‘careless outbursts’ over scrapping of the NNPC following alleged abysmal performance over the years.

It also said the recent media statements credited to the former Emir and Governor of Kaduna State are clear evidence that they have lost touch with realities of economic development and growth.

Address journalists today at his Abuja office on President Muhammadu records of performance, the National Coordinator of the Group ,Dr. Kailani Muhammad said, “We are shocked that even when the President Muhammadu Buhari led government has provided the needed impetus for NNPC to become effective through the enactment of Petroleum Industry Act PIA, a sitting Governor has decided to criticize the measure and calling for the scrap of NNPC.

According to him, it is obvious that El-Rufai’s frustration over the achievements of NNPC is glaring , following its transformation to a limited liability company , because it’s no longer business as usual where governors would run to the Federal Government just to receive monthly grant without coming up with any initiative that would add value to their states .

Dr. Kailani who expressed disatisfaction with with the Governor’s ill-timed position , stressed,”We can authoritatively conclude that El-Rufai has lost tune with present day.Adding , “the governor would have concentrated on state development rather than focussing on NNPC just with the aim of seeing it’s pitfalls.

“Someone who has failed to recognize that the global economic meltdown has grossly impacted on NNPC and coupled with oil theft in the Niger Delta region which the Mele Kyari administration is fighting to halt and other factors have adverse effect on the performance of the organization.”

While accepting that there are challenges facing the oil and gas sectors across the world , he said, “Despite this ,the management under a prudent and efficient Group Managing Director, Malam Mele Kolo Kyari has performed creditably well to spearhead the organization to greater success.

Speaking on the former Emir Sanusi’s comments , the group said,”The records put forward by Malam Sanusi about the daily consumption of fuel as released by the NNPC shows how he was unscientific in his approach.

Noting,”He has forgotten the daily increase of fuel consumption by the over 10million vehicles, the over one million people in a number of house holds in Ondo State that were cut off from electricity supply, the users of grinding machines, the tricycle users, standby generators users and a number of other various sources that relied on fuel for their daily activities.

“When Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was appointed Emir of Kano by the then Governor of Kano State, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, very few people rejoiced.

“But when he was dethroned by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, many people were happy that he was ousted. The reason was not far fetched. Sanusi who was to serve as the symbol of the historic traditional institution, was grossly unable to understand and keep to the ettiquetes of the traditional institution. He deeply felt that he was very intelligent, better than everyone and hence began to challenge the authority of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.

“Sanusi always feel he is one of the most intelligent people in the country and of course smartest of all. But people are so apathetic to his rise and fall and that’s why I wasn’t surprise when he was quoted as saying that, he felt sorry for the next President of Nigeria based on what he termed as poor economy, insecurity and other challenges bedeviling the country.”

“For us ,NNPC under Buhari led administration has be transformed and should be appreciated by persons within and outside corridors of power.”

NRM Senatorial Candidate Doles Out Items Worth Million in Naira To Victims Of Flood Disaster In Kogi

NRM Senatorial Candidate Doles Out Cash, Items Worth Millions To Kogi Flood Victims

The National Rescue Mission ( NRM) Senatorial Candidate for Kogi West, Mallam Bala Abdulghafar Dirisu has donated (food) items include noddles, drinking water, blankets, milk and other daily essentials worth millions of to flood victims in all the affected Local Governments Areas comprising the constituency namely Lokoja and Kontokarfe Local Government areas (LGAs) of the state.

Addressing victims of the flood disaster around his constituency, Mallam Bala Dirisu expressed sincere condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in recent devastating floods in parts of Kogi state
and wished speedy recovery of the injured undergoing treatment.

The gesture, he said is to enable vulnerable families, particularly in Lokoja and Kotonkarfe
LGAs, which are the most impacted areas in the state, to cope with the devastating flood water which has inundated homes, farmlands and forced residents of affected communities to relocate to safer places.

Mr Dirisu also attributed the ugly and unfortunate incident to lack of commitment and political will from the government to tackle life threatening issues that affects not only the people of the state but make life hard for the nation at large.

He further averred that dredging of the Niger and other rivers, building of dams along flood plains, opening more water channels and reservoirs, resettlement of residence in disaster/flood prone areas and other natural disasters like earthquakes and erosions will help prevent this disaster in the future.

Dirisu urged the populace to vote against candidates that don’t have them in mind and would act in the overall interest of the people and not for selfish few. He said the 2023 elections is a referendum against evil leaders and vowed to make a difference when elected as senator to represent the good people of Kogi West.

It could recall that for over three weeks running, thousands of travellers and residents of Lokoja, Kogi State capital have experienced severe hardship due to heavy flooding as a result thousands of people are displaced, About ten people were reported dead and huge part of the city Submerged in the flood.

Areas submerged includes New market, Old market, Galili, Adankolo new layout, Sarki Noma, Ganaja, kabawa, 500 units, Dadumo.