Kwara Delegation Visits Shonga, Begins Probe into Rice Plantation Flooding

 

 

▪︎ Govt Donates Relief Materials as Victims Count Losses
▪︎ Emir of Shonga Calls for Thorough Investigation

A high-powered delegation from the Kwara State Government, led by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Princess Bukola Babalola, on Sunday, visited Shonga in Edu Local Government Area to investigate the causes of the devastating flooding that submerged thousands of hectares of rice farmlands in the Tada community.

The team also delivered relief materials worth millions of naira to affected farmers, as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the disaster.

Other members of the delegation included the Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Saba Gideon; Commissioners for Agriculture, Water Resources, Environment, and Youth; the Special Adviser on Special Duties; the Senior Special Assistant on Security to the Governor; Chairman of Edu Local Government, Abdullahi Bello; officials from the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA); a director from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government; and the General Manager of the Kwara State Social Investment Programme.

Speaking during the visit, Princess Babalola reassured the victims of the government’s commitment to addressing their plight and preventing a recurrence.

“We are here to assess the damage caused by the flooding, especially to the rice farms in Tada community. We have seen the extent of the devastation and will report back to His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for immediate and long-term remedies to prevent future occurrences,” she said.

Babalola added that the government is committed to supporting the farmers and investigating the unusual flooding. “We have heard the complaints of the farmers, and assistance is on the way,” she stated.

The Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahya Ndanusa, expressed concern over the flooding, noting that it could threaten food security in the state. He called for a thorough investigation into the causes of the flooding, which he described as “unusual.”

“From here to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Mali, there was no rain. The Sahel is dry. So how can there be flooding here? The source of this flood must be local.

We have contacted Kainji Dam, and they said it wasn’t from them. Jebba Dam, however, could not deny it, and they admitted they would soon close it,” the Emir revealed.

He commended Governor AbdulRazaq for his swift intervention, stating, “We are grateful for the government’s concern and the prompt dispatch of this powerful delegation. It is crucial that we get to the root of this issue to avert similar occurrences in the future.”

Muhammad Abdulkadir, a community leader in Tada, lamented the losses incurred by farmers, many of whom came from states like Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, and Niger.

“Our farmers have lost millions of naira worth of rice farms to this flooding. Annually, we produce over three million metric tonnes of rice when there is no flooding.

We thank the government for its swift intervention but urge it to provide a permanent solution, which is to dredge the River Niger,” Abdulkadir said.

The visit underscores the government’s commitment to supporting farmers and addressing issues affecting food security in Kwara State.

===========