Kwara takes the heat as the floods move in

Sheikh Abdullahi Salaty, an Ilorin-based Islamic cleric and one of the speakers at the Ilorin Central Eid praying ground, called on the federal government to pay attention to the devastation effect of the Asa River, saying the non-completion of the dredging and channelisation of the river was causing havoc to the community.
“We want to tell the federal government that the project left uncompleted has been causing untold hardships to our people. Many people have been left homeless as a result of flood. We call on the government to take urgent steps to alleviate the suffering of our people.”
The scholar pointed out that the pitiable condition of the praying ground aptly described the severity of the flood and the havoc it has brought to the victims.
On Wednesday, last week, some residents of Ilorin woke up to the devastation caused by the heavy downpour.
Though no life was lost in the flooding, several houses were submerged while fences fell on cars and damaged them beyond repairs at Sakasaka Street Odota Ilorin.
Other parts of Ilorin affected were Ita Amadu, Mandate Housing Estate, Oko Erin, Isale Koko, Aduralere, among others.
Badly affected also was Isale Koko in Ilorin metropolis where over 300 houses were submerged in the flood.
Residents of the area who spoke to Daily Trust attributed the flooding to Asa River dredging which was stopped at Isale Koko end, saying the dredging did not meet the specification of project.
Last year, when the state witnessed unprecedented flooding which killed unspecified number of people and destroyed properties worth millions of naira, the federal government intervened with the commencement of the dredging and channelisation of Asa River in Ilorin.
Many people heaved a sigh of relief with the commencement of the project which was designed in three phases.
 Former Commissioner for Environment Barrister Kayode Towoju explained that the first phase of the project covers Coca-Cola Bridge to Unity Bridge, passing through Emir’s Road Bridge and Amilengbe Bridge in Ilorin metropolis.
The ex-commissioner stated that the dredging would be 40 meters wide and 25 meters each at both sides.
While saying that the dredging of Asa River is a project that the people of Kwara have been yearning for, Towoju added that the project would open up more business activities and the river bank can be used for picnic.
However, the project, it was gathered, stopped after completing the first phase.
Members of Isale Koko community vented their spleen when Senator Bukola Saraki who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, inspected the area.
Alhaji Nda-Rabi, appealed to the federal government to ensure quick completion of the project to forestall a recurrence of the disaster.
Saraki, who was briefed about the non-completion of the Asa river project by the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Abubakar Mora, said the project will be completed.
Recalling the project was awarded during late President Umar Musa Yar’adua’s administration, he noted that the contractor has been mobilised and ought to have completed work on schedule.
He said: “If the job had been done according to the programme, we could have avoided the destruction of over 300 houses. The non completion of the contract according to schedule has been responsible for the displacement of the occupants of the flooded houses and some people are responsible for that.
“The issue, really, is that somebody must be accountable, somebody must ensure that the contractors’ claim of paucity of fund should be rectified. More funds should be released to the contractors. We are just lucky that no lives were lost. The funds are available, the contractors must be held responsible. If what he is saying is that funds have not been made available, then the ecological funds should make funds available to him.
 “These are the kinds of things that make us to review the efficacy of the ecological funds. Is this the best way of supervising this kind of contract? If necessary steps are not taken and this flooding happens again, God forbids, lives might be lost. There is the need for prompt action to be taken and I think the state government has written to the National Emergency Agency (NEMA) to see that some relief materials are provided for some of the victims.
“As the chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, once we resume from our recess we will invite those involved like the minister of the environment and ecology funds unit to come and explain to us why the contract awarded a year ago is still behind schedule. As far as the people are concerned, we don’t care who is at fault between the awarding ministry and the contractors, all we want is that the job must be done. Nothing must happen there again that might lead to loss of lives or further damage. Any further damage or loss of life will amount to recklessness on the part of those who are responsible”.
 It would be recalled that Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed also blamed the flooding on the non-completion of the Asa River project.