Houses submerged as flood sacks Kwara community

Many houses and other properties, including farm crops, stayed afloat on the water in Bode-Saadu, headquarters of Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State, as flood took over the community on Thursday.

The flooding was a result of the heavy rain that fell in the community as well as some other places between Tuesday and Thursday.

According to Metro, however, gathered on Thursday that the incident, which necessitated the visit of the state governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, did not record any loss of life.

Our correspondent further gathered that the incident was accentuated by the dualisation of the Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa Road by the Federal Government.

It was gathered that the flooding was exacerbated by the long rain of Wednesday evening, which lasted for more than five hours.

Residents, however, started to move out of their houses to upland and safer places in the community while household materials as well as domestic animals, were left behind.

Meanwhile, AbdulRazaq visited the Bode Saadu community on Thursday to sympathise with residents following the downpour that overflew the Arinun Bridge and initially submerged many houses in the area.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said that the governor was accompanied by the Commissioner for Special Duties, John Bello and the Special Adviser (Special Duties), Abdulrazaq Jiddah, adding that “the governor went round the affected areas in the community to have a firsthand account of the situation.

“We are here to commiserate with the people of Bode Saadu and make sure that everybody is okay and look at the causes of the flood,” he told reporters on the sideline of the visit.

“We have realised that with the major work going on with the dualisation of the Ilorin-Mokwa Road by the Federal Ministry of Works. They have built a temporary bypass. Somehow, there are some challenges around the bypass, which experts will look into. That is the cause of the flooding. The Director of Highway Federal Ministry of Works and other experts will be here to find an immediate solution to the problem. We have also deployed the State Emergency Management Agency for some relief measures.”

The governor also appealed to the residents to steer clear of setbacks, adding, “One of the major challenges we have nationwide is people not observing setbacks. It is a major problem. Half of the buildings wouldn’t have been affected if they had observed the right setbacks.

“We will intensify our efforts to ensure that people observe setbacks for the safety of all.”

Bello, who hails from the area, commended the governor for the visit.

Ajakaye said that the residents commended the governor for the visit, which they said again pointed to his commitment to the welfare of the people.

In another development, Governor Abdulrazaq also approved immediate rehabilitation of the Moro Steel Bridge, which links the state with Oyo State following significant cracks resulting from consistent use over the years.

Originally constructed decades ago by the Federal Military administration, the bridge’s deteriorating condition had made it dangerous for human and vehicular traffic.

“In the light of this, Governor Abdulrazaq has approved immediate rehabilitation of the bridge for safety reasons and ease of movement of the people,” a statement by the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Abdulquawiy Olododo, noted.

“This intervention is a stop-gap measure to address the immediate concerns of the people pending the completion of a new concrete bridge by the Federal Government.

“Work is already in progress, with the KWARMA team finalising the installation of new steel plates.This timely intervention will not only facilitate smoother and safer movement of people along that important economic corridor.”