‘Dredge River Niger to curb flooding’

 THE perennial national problems of flooding and bloody clashes between herdsmen and farmers can be decisively tackled by the Federal Government simply by dredging the River Niger and establishment of modern ranches instead of open grazing.

  Making this clarion call in a press interview, the traditional ruler of Ochuche Umuodu, in Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Igwe V.P.O. Ike Ijeomah (Okubataifeadi I), said dredging of River Niger would permanently halt further submerging of coastal communities by flood as being witnessed presently.

  Igwe Ijeomah rued over the huge losses encountered by people of Ochuche Umuodu and their neighbours in Ogbaru LGA and other coastal areas due to the recurring flood disasters almost every year, urging the FG to take necessary action to nip the ugly trend without further delay.

  The royal father also lamented the frequent loss of lives and property arising from violent clashes between nomadic herdsmen and farmers in several parts of the country, and advocated the introduction of cattle ranches for animal husbandry instead of indiscriminate grazing causing bloody herdsmen-farmers’ showdown.

Igwe Ijeomah expressed serious concern about the rampaging herdsmen who occasionally invade the area, thereby militating against agricultural activities which aggravate reprisal attacks by farmers whose crops are destroyed by the animals.

He further asserted that the FG owed it as a duty to protect the lives and property of Nigerians irrespective of tribe and creed, pointing out that it should take the right steps to forestall such lingering disasters like flooding and security challenges arising from herdsmen activities.