A devastating flood triggered by the release of water from the Jebba and Kainji dams in Niger State has wiped out over 5,000 hectares of rice plantations in Kwara State, causing losses estimated at N11.5 billion.
The flood affected key rice-producing communities in Edu, Moro, and Patigi local government areas, submerging farmlands in Fonga and Jebba (Moro LGA), Lade, Patigi, and Kpada Districts (Patigi LGA), as well as Shonga, Bacita, and Lafiagi (Edu LGA).
Speaking after an assessment visit to the affected areas in Shonga, Ahmed Adamu-Saba, who represents the Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, described the disaster as a major threat to food security.
“This isn’t just about farmlands being flooded. It’s about the livelihoods of thousands of farmers lost overnight and the ripple effect it will have on food availability across the country,” Adamu-Saba lamented.
He noted that the victims, mostly dry-season farmers, were caught off guard, as flooding is uncommon outside the rainy season. According to him, rice produced in Moro, Edu, and Patigi is among Nigeria’s finest, feeding millions nationwide.
Adamu-Saba announced plans to raise the issue on the floor of the House of Representatives when sessions resume, urging federal agencies to investigate the circumstances surrounding the dam release.
In a bid to support the affected farmers, the lawmaker distributed relief items, including 150 bags of NPK fertilizer, 50 knapsack sprayers, 50 bags of rice seeds, 170 litres of pesticides and chemicals, and 10 solar-powered water pumps.
Also speaking, Gideon Yisa, a member of the Kwara State House of Assembly representing Edu Constituency, called on the federal government to intervene and provide immediate assistance to the affected farmers.
However, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had earlier directed an investigation into the cause of the disaster after dispatching top state officials to inspect the damage.