The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has called for the development of the nation’s water resources even as he also made a case for the development of the agricultural sector in the country.
The Sultan , who made the call yesterday when the House of Representatives Committee on Water Resources paid him a courtesy call in his palace, said that the development of water resources and agriculture would help stimulate the economy.
The House committee, led by Hon. Aliyu Ahman Patigi was in Sokoto to inspect the on-going Goronyo Dam, part of which collapsed last year due to flooding as well as to assess the effect of the relief efforts to the displaced people.
Sultan Abubakar observed that Nigeria was well endowed with vast water resources and agricultural potentials and observed that what the country needed as a nation was the will to utilise these resources.
He said that Goronyo Dam could be put to better use if properly maintained and charged the committee to be firm in their oversight function and stressed that the problem with Nigeria was that people who commit offences were not punished.
The royal father also wanted the federal government to pay more attention to the issue of climate change.
He however commended President Goodluck Jonathan for releasing of funds for the rehabilitation of the dam.
Earlier, Hon. Patigi had said that the committee members were in Sokoto to assess the on-going work on the collapsed dam and to also assess the various relief interventions on the displaced people as well as? look at other areas of interventions.
The committee chairman told the Sultan that he and his members’ visit to the palace was also for them to receive royal blessings from the Sultan.