- Renew call for dredging of River Benue
Senate yesterday urged all school owners in the country to adhere to safety rules in the operation of school buildings to avoid incidences pupil’s untimely deaths.
Senate after observing a minute silence in honour of one of the victims of unsafe School structures at Emerald International School,Aba in Abia state, Mr David Udo; the Senate urged the police to immediately commence a thorough investigation to unravel what actually happened.
This resolution was on the heels of a motion of urgent national importance moved by senator Adebule Idiat (Lagos west ) who drew attention to the death of the toddler David Etim Udo on 24th October , 2023 who fell from a school high rise building and the need to ensure safety in all schools ,particularly for babies in creche and Nursery schools across the country .
The mover of the motion expressed concerns that such incidents have become reoccurring and have led to injuries ,temporary or permanent disabilities and in some cases , deaths.
According to her ,” if there are state policies or not, school operators and managers are expected to display duty of care and ensure that babies and toddlers under their care are properly monitored and prevented from falling off high -rise buildings in their premises.
Describing the case of late Udo asb”pathetic and heartbreaking”, the Senate urged the federal ministry of education to compel schools nationwide to relocate their creche and Nursery classes to safety floors or bungalow within the school premises .
Senate also mandated the ministry of education to immediately conduct a risk assessment in all school infrastructures in Nigeria to identify hazards and vulnerable and timely identify means to mitigate such hazards.
It equally resolved that the education ministry enforces safety protocols on schools as enshrined in the National Policy on safety ,security and violence-free schools and issuing it’s implementation guidelines .
Barau : it’s sad that a toddler will die in such circumstances.
Speaking in favour of the motion, deputy president of Senate , Jubrin Barau said,”It is the fault of the authorities that school owners use all manner of facilities for schools.
“There are instances where residential buildings , in most cases high rising buildings used as schools for toddlers .
“We can not allow this to continue, the rules must be obeyed”
For senator Victor Uneh, “the death of the toddler exposes the flaws we have in designs where schools are built without safety measures.
“The negligence is all over and not just in schools. People build without proper designs “
In his contribution, senator Abba Moro said , “We need actions and not just resolutions . The authorities most move into action” .
In another development , Senate also renewed call for the dredging of the rivers Benue and Niger to curb incessant cases of flooding .
The upper legislative chamber resolved that dredging of the two rivers be accommodated in the 2024 budget estimates to address this escalating situation that has led to many lost of lives and property.
This was upon the motion moved by senator Abbas Aminu (Adamawa Central) who drew attention of Senate to the volume of water flow of the high land of Northern Cameron through Jimeta in Adamawa state ,Ibi in Taraba, Makurdi in Benue that finally meets River Niger at Lokoja.
According to the mover of the motion, the water flow led to death of 32 people of November 1, 2023 on board trying to cross the river at Garin Alaji near Chikito village where the boat capzised with only 7 bodies discovered and 5 rescued alive.
The motion also states that Adamawa state is always affect by consequence of flood disaster largely caused by lack of dredging “which on 2002 alone according to NEMA,displaced over 2.41 million people and over 600 fatalities were recorded with expensive hectares of farm lands across the affected states swept off”.
The Senate also resolved and urged the President to facilitate the construction of the Dasin Hausa Dam proposed to be in Furore Local Government to curtail potential risk of excessive flood from the Ladgo Damon Cameroon and urged equally , the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials to the victims of flood and embark on enlightenment on dangers of crossing rivers before or after rainfall as well as on safety measures .