Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, at the weekend, disclosed that the Federal Government was planning to resume the dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue.

Utsev added that his ministry had put committees in motion to work on the modalities for the dredging of the two rivers. Fielding questions from journalists in Ilorin, Kwara State, on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony from a youth empowerment scheme and distribution of items organised by the Lower Niger River Basin Authority, he said: “Dredging of Rivers Niger and Benue is what we are working on. We have actually put some committees in place.

“The committees will do the assessment on the feasibility of the dredging. After that we will discuss it with President Bola Tinubu. At that point we will then tell all Nigerians where we are on the dredging of the two rivers.”  He added that his ministry was working to ensure the provision of potable water, sanitation and irrigation for Nigerians.

“Water for irrigation will be used to provide food for the enhancement of food security and ultimately generate income and empowerment. As you can see, some youths are being empowered today. Water is not only important; it is very necessary in the existence of living organisms

Without water there will be no life.

“President Tinubu in his Renewed Hope agenda promises Nigerians to work on food security and revive Nigeria’s economy in addition to healthcare and security.

“We at the ministry are working assiduously to see how we can provide potable water for drinking, sanitation and irrigation,” he stressed.