By Dare Akogun
In a bid to address the perennial flooding experienced by communities along the Asa River in Ilorin, the Kwara State Government has announced that it is in advanced discussions with the Ecological Project Office to ensure the completion of the long-abandoned channelization and embankment project on the river.
The Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Hon. Nafisat Musa-Buge, disclosed this during the quarterly Inter-Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Ministry of Finance Conference Room in Ilorin, the state capital.
According to the Commissioner, the state government, under the leadership of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has initiated contact with the Ecological Project Office and the Federal Ministry of Environment to expedite the process of mobilizing contractors back to the project site.
“The governor, who is the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, has initiated discussions with the office and the Federal Ministry of Environment to ensure the contractors return to the site and the project is completed,” Musa-Buge stated.
The project, which is funded by the Ecological Funds and supervised by the Ecological Project Office domiciled in the Presidency, aims to mitigate the severe ecological problems facing the communities along the Asa River, which have been subjected to recurrent flooding over the years.
The scope of the project includes dredging, desilting, channelization, and construction of retaining walls and drainage channels to alleviate the flooding problems.
The commissioner noted that the Asa River channelisation project, once completed, is expected to improve flood management in the affected areas, prevent loss of lives and properties, and contribute to the overall socio-economic development of the state.
While noting that the state government has consistently advised residents in flood-prone areas to relocate before the commencement of the rainy season, the commissioner lamented that such warnings have often gone unheeded, leading to preventable damages and disruptions.
“We have always advised residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate before the rainy season begins, but unfortunately, this advice often falls on deaf ears. This project, once completed, will help reduce the flooding risks for these communities and provide them with much-needed peace of mind,” she added.
