Abdulkadir Dewu (PDP-Kirfi), a legislator in the Bauchi State House of Assembly, has procured four units of canoes to ease transportation for his constituents across the Kirfi river, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
Speaking to NAN in Bauchi on Friday, Dewu said he spent the sum of N2.8 million to purchase the canoes from Numan local government area, Adamawa state.
He said each of the three medium-sized canoes cost N780,000, while the fourth one with a higher capacity costs him N480,000, to alleviate daily commuting for the communities in his constituency, pointing out that the canoes were being manned by indigent operators, who are competent swimmers to forestall any mishaps.
Dewu said that the canoes were being used to cross the river from Kirfi to Guyaba, Beni and Shango villages, located near the river bank.
The legislator lauded the efforts of the state government over the ongoing renovation and upgrading of the Kirfi general hospital and the construction of the 58km Kirfi to Gombe Abba road, saying that the two projects would seriously impact on his constituents.
NAN recalls that in 2019, no fewer than 37 people out the 49 onboard a canoe lost their lives when the canoe capsized in Kirfi river. (NAN)
