The Oluwo of Owu-

Ijebu, Oba
Michael Adeshina, in Lagos State, has expressed concern over the misuse of
national budget in the name of constituency projects by lawmakers.

Adeshina expressed the concern in an interview with newsmen
in Abuja on the sideline of a programme organised by the Federal Ministry of
Water Resources on the effective utilisation of water resources in the country.

He said that the diversion of budgetary alloocation to
lawmakers in the name of constituency projects had stalled the completion of
various projects across the country.

“One person because
he occupies a privileged position in the parliament says he wants a
constituency project then you take government money to do a project that
probably doesn’t rhyme into the national water planning and then you say it’s
constituency project.

“Which constituency? Is it operating outside Nigeria? Are you
doing it with your own money, is it something you are bringing back from Abuja
to say this is what I want to do for my people with my own money?

“No. It is the government money, the money that should have
been used to benefit all that a few people say come and do this in my
constituency and that reduces the budget available for the ministry and for the
water corporations in the various states.

“Constituency projects are hardly completed, in fact, less
than 25 per cent are completed and the money is spent.’’

He also urged the Federal Government to continue to maintain
a cordial relationship with other African countries who share trans-boundary
water sources.

“We have a commission where all those countries are but we
must continue to be friends before we can enjoy it.

“In Central Africa, we are bringing water from River Congo,
pumping it through many countries before you recharge it to Lake Chad.’’

Adeshina said that the resuscitation of the Lake Chad basin
would boost agriculture and Nigeria’s economy.

“With the water you are getting in Lake Chad, it’s an
investment.

“If you recharge the Lake Chad, you will do a lot of
irrigation schemes for which you can plant rice, plant wheat instead of
importing and so on, that would offset the cost and it will also provide
employment.’’

Our correspondent reports that Nigeria requires 14.5 billion
dollars to transfer water from Ubangi River in the Congo to recharge the Lake.