Flooding: KWSG Sensitizes Residents of Moro, Edu (Lafiagi), Patigi, Kaiama LGs

The Kwara State Government has warned residents living around river banks across the four local government areas of Kwara North to vacate the areas in order to avoid loss of lives and properties.

The Kwara State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. John Bello Olarewaju made the call during a week long sensitization programme in Moro, Edu, Patigi, Lafiagi and Kaiama Local Government Areas of the State.

Speaking further, the Commissioner said, “As a responsible government committed to the well-being of Kwarans and Kwara residents, we have embarked on radio and television jingles in not less than four stations". 

“Prevention they say is better than cure hence, we urge our people living around river banks to vacate to safer areas to avert the loss of lives and properties.” 

According to him, residents of Sannamangi, Mafara, Ipata, Fangan, Adualere, Awoyaya among other areas are likely to be massively affected by flood in Moro. 

Earlier, the Director for Special Duties and Operations, TPL Alao Fatai Tunde cautioned the people against building houses on river banks and dumping of refuse indiscriminately. 

Responding on behalf the of Oba of Jebba, His Royal Highness, Oba Abdulkadir Alabi Adebara, the Secretary to the palace, Mallam Lawal Abdulraheem, appreciated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his traceable impacts in Moro Local Government.

He, however, lamented that flooding has cost regrettable damages to lives and properties in the area and appealed for timely intervention of the Government.

According to him, farming remains the major occupation of the people of Moro but flood has done lots of damages to their farmlands, including sweeping away their crops like rice, livestock and other valuables.

In his own remarks, Mallam Folorunsho from Ipata applauded the Governor for his intervention in Ipata.

He however appealed for a lasting solution to flooding.

Responding, separately to the warning of the state government at the palace of Etsu Patigi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Bologi II and the Chairman of Patigi Local Government

Area, Hon. Ahmed Adam Rufai, both appreciated Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the timely intervention aimed at preventing loss of lives and properties.  

The Etsu urged his people to strictly abide by the instructions of the State government just as the Council Boss, Hon. Rufai said flood recently washed away farmlands worth millions of Naira, hence the urgent need for his people to relocate their families from riverine areas to safer locations. 

The Chairman mentioned Esugi, Mawogi, Gudugi among the villages already affected by the flooding just as he listed Kpata, Gbaradogi, Gbafun, Gakpa, Gunji as areas that may also be affected by flood. 

He, however, appealed to the State government on behalf of his people to find  lasting solutions to the recurring issue of flooding 

In his remarks, the Vice Chairman Red Cross Society, Patigi Local Government Division, Mallam Aliu Legbo Usman also appreciated the Governor for the timely sensitization.

Meanwhile, the people of the community appealed to the Governor for solar engine, chemicals, fertilizers, and seedlings to help the farmers during both the rainy and dry season farming, they also appealed for government's low-cost housing for those whose properties have been destroyed by the floods.

At Edogi, one of the affected communities in Edu Local Government Area of the State, Hon. Olarewaju urged residents of river banks to vacate the place to a safer environment, adding that according to the weather forecast, there would be heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding. 

The Commissioner mentioned, Lukpata, Pututa, Egogi, Rupeta, Elumoba, Efiagi, Eko, Chewuru, Gbagiri, Wondagitwako among the villages that may be affected by flood.

 Responding, the Edogi Community Youth Leader, Mallam Abubakar Muhammad Dabo applauded Governor Abdurazaq for his commitment to the welfare of the people. He added that the Governor recently visited the community and donated the sum of Fifteen Million Naira (N15,000,000). 

Also at the Palace of Emir of Shonga, His Royal Highness, Alhaji (Dr) Haliru Ndanusa Yahaya, the Commissioner said his team has visited all four Kwara North Local Government Areas for the sensitization programme. 

Responding, the Lafarma of Shonga, Mallam Nasir Ibn Musa, who represented the Emir of Shonga blamed climate change and  cutting of trees by the Forest Department for the recurring flood.

The Lafarma of Shonga who said planting of rice and fishing are the two major businesses of his people, 

however appealed to Governor Abdurazaq to construct access road from farms to the market, inorder to reduce the constant loss of farm produce.

 

On his part, the Youth leader of Taada village, Mr Jibril Taada Jimba  listed, Taada,  Chiji , Kusogi,Yenagi, Kpilagi among the villages affected by  flood. 

Speaking further, he said, River Niger has been so shallow because of debris and sand deposited in its channel hence he urged the state government and Federal Government to come to their aid by dredging River Niger to cater for more volume of water. 

He added that they also need solar borehole to provide water for irrigation during dry season farming. 

 

The Youth Leader also appealed to the State government to help in rehabilitating the dykes to conserve water for farming during the raining season. 

He added that the river that connects Edogi to Lafiagi, usually overflow hence there is the need for an excavator to dredge the river channel at the entry to River Niger to occupy more volume of water.  

At Aderan,  the road that connects the community to Jebba is presently not motorable, a development that has affected socio-economic activities of the area. 

The people therefore appealed to the Governor to help fix their roads, bridges and other facilities in the area. 

Mayaki Kareem Rabiat

Press Secretary

Abdulfatai Sadiq Olowo 

Assistant Press Secretary 

Kwara State Ministry of Special Duties