A national consultative forum on the 2013 flood prevention, mitigation preparedness and response has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the dredging of the Niger and Benue rivers to avert disaster, the News Agency of Nigeria reports.
The forum reportedly made the call in a communiqué on Thursday in Abuja.
It said the dredging of the rivers would reduce siltation and increase river capacity in a flood situation.
“ The Federal Ministry of Water Resources should facilitate construction of structures like buffer dams, dykes, levees, barriers and flood diversion channels to prevent flooding, ’’ it said.
It urged the ministry to ensure strict enforcement of environmental laws, land use planning, development control and building codes.
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Dredging Today Staff, March 29, 2013