By Haruna Salami
Architects in Nigeria have been urged to be at the vanguard of Nigerian development through the dredging of the River Niger.
This call was made by Architect (Chief) Gabriel Yakubu Aduku while delivering the 4th Distinguished Lecture of the Nigerian Institute of Architects with the theme “Beyond Simple Lines: 2” at the Yar’adua Centre in Abuja Thursday.
Chief Aduku said Nigeria should use its God given resources, particularly the Rivers Niger and Benue which have their confluence in Lokoja, the Kogi state capital to its full advantage in terms of development.
According to him, Lokoja, the city of amalgamation in 1914 is a United Nation’s heritage city, without any benefit for the people of the state snd therefore advocated that the River be “sustainably dredged”.
The current government has spent a lot of money through annual budgetary allocation for the dredging of the River and has even said the dredging has been done, contrary to the reality on the ground, Aduku said.
Chief Aduku said the challenge before the country are “numerous” and urged people of goodwill all over the world to be sympathetic to our course.