Date: 2012-10-30

Former Kwara State Governor and Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment, Bukola Saraki, has expressed concern over the duration between the outbreak of a natural disaster in the country and when relief materials are sent to the affected persons.

Saraki, in a chat with reporters in Ilorin at the weekend, said a process was in the offing by the Senate and other relevant agencies to ensure that palliative materials were sent to the affected persons within 24 hours of the incident.

Meanwhile, Saraki has disclosed that the dredging of River Niger would be extended to Jebba in Kwara State.

Saraki, who expressed ignorance over the allegations of mismanagement of relief materials to the displaced persons, however, promised that the Senate would promptly monitor the development towards bringing to book the culprits.

Saraki, who also spoke on the issue of oil spillage in the Niger Delta region, said the law being drafted to protect the people of the area and the environment should not be seen as punitive but a measure towards making the multinational companies more committed to the issue of protecting the environment.