A Kwara State Government delegation, led by Deputy Chief of Staff Princess Bukola Babalola, visited Shonga in the Edu Local Government Area on Sunday to assess the extent of the flooding that has submerged thousands of hectares of rice farmlands.
The delegation aimed to determine the causes of the unusual flooding, which has had a devastating impact on local agriculture. They also brought with them relief materials worth millions of naira to support the affected farmers in Tada, a community in Shonga.
During the visit, the delegation met with the Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahya Ndanusa, and the victims of the flooding in Tada.
Babalola reassured the residents that the government was committed to providing assistance to the farmers in the aftermath of the disaster.
She expressed her concern for the affected community, stating, “We are here to assess the damage, particularly to the rice farms in Tada. We have seen the extent of the devastation, and we will relay this information to His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to determine immediate and long-term solutions to prevent further loss of life and farmlands.”
The Deputy Chief of Staff also acknowledged the frustrations of the farmers, many of whom expressed the need for additional support. “We have heard their complaints, and help is on the way,” she assured.
Babalola expressed gratitude to the residents for their cooperation and understanding during this challenging time, emphasizing that the government was focused on their well-being and would continue to investigate the causes of the flooding.
The Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahya Ndanusa, voiced his deep concern over the flooding, highlighting its potential impact on food security in Kwara State.
He called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the flooding, which he described as unusual for this time of year.
“From here all the way to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Mali, the Sahel region is dry. So how can there be flooding here? The source of this flood must be local,” he remarked.
Dr. Ndanusa explained that the community had already inquired with the Kainji Dam authorities, who denied any involvement in the flooding.
However, he noted that officials from the Jebba Dam had acknowledged the possibility of their dam contributing to the flooding. “Jebba Dam could not deny it. They said they would soon close it,” he explained.
The Emir further expressed his concern over the long-term consequences of the flooding, which he feared could undermine years of efforts to attract farmers to the region. “We hope this doesn’t happen again next year, as it could lead to food insecurity,” he added.
The Emir also appreciated the swift response of the Kwara State Government, noting that the delegation’s visit showed the state’s commitment to addressing the crisis.
“His Excellency has spoken to me about this issue, and he has taken it very seriously. I did not expect this delegation again, especially after the interventions he has already made. We are grateful to him for his concern and for sending this strong delegation.”
In addition to the government’s relief efforts, Tada community leader Muhammad Abdulkadir revealed that many of the farmers in the area, who come from various northern states including Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, and Niger, had suffered immense financial losses due to the flooding.
“Our farmers have lost millions of naira worth of rice farms to this disaster,” Abdulkadir stated, underscoring the widespread impact of the flooding.
He further emphasized the importance of government support, explaining that the Tada community had once produced over 3 million metric tonnes of rice annually before the flooding devastated the region.
“We are grateful to the government for acting quickly, but this issue should not end here. We need a permanent solution to the recurring flooding in this area,” Abdulkadir urged.
He suggested that dredging the River Niger could provide a long-term solution to the flooding problem.