Serving senators under the aegis of the Northern Senators’ Forum on Wednesday sought a permanent solution to the recurring flooding in Shiroro, Niger State.
In a statement, the Chairman of the forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua (Katsina Central), specifically demanded the development and implementation of a Shiroro Flood Management Master Plan.
According to the senators, the master plan should include a scientifically determined flood-buffer operating strategy for the Shiroro, Kainji, and Jebba dams, a permanent flood forecasting and early-warning system with trained local volunteers downstream and a comprehensive floodplain resettlement program that provides planned settlements, compensation, and livelihood support for affected persons.
They added that an independent technical review of dam operations, reservoir capacity, and spillway performance-in light of current climate realities-must be conducted to determine how future water releases are managed.