Abdulrazaq seeks FG’s intervention for dredging to end river Niger flood in Kwara

By Stephen Oladele

Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has identified dredging of the river Niger as a lasting solution to the perennial flood that ravage agarian communities at the bank of the river in Edu and Pategi Local Goverment Areas in the state.

He suggested the solution on Wednesday when he paid a sympathy visit to Pututa and other agrarian communities in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government, that were ravaged by flood.

The communities affected  by the flood are Tswako, Likpata, Godangi, and Ekko, all within Lafiagi Ward 4.

the Governor  who spoke at the Palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammed Kudu Kawu described

as unfortunate the recurring flood disaster in the area.

He noted that the dredging of the river would require intervention of the federal government and assured that his administration  would keep making efforts to secure the intervention.

“The purpose of this visit is to come and commiserate with the communities over the flood incident and to see how we can bring succour to the affected communities,”

“It is a bad situation, we are glad that no life was lost, though a lot of properties were destroyed. The dredging of River Niger is beyond the state but we will continue to engage federal agencies like the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Inland Waterways, HYPADEC and other federal agencies for their support,” he stated.

Earlier in Pututa, the Governor told the head of Pututa (Lashan Pututa), Alhaji Muhammed Manko Ibrahim, that the government is working hard to fix their challenge.

He directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to visit the place and take inventory of their losses for adequate government’s support. 

Abdulrazaq  gave the flood affected people a sum of  N10 million to provide for their immediate needs, including medical, food, and drinking water.

 He thanked the people of the Lafiagi Emirate and Kwara North as a whole for supporting his government.

The governor who  extended his visit to the College of Education (Technical) Lafiagi hinted of the plan of his administration to ensure that the college is upgraded as a federal university of education.

He said the government will look into the reopening of the Gbugbu International Market, Lafiagi, which was earlier closed for security reasons.

Abdulrazaq  at the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi explained the reason his administration chose Kwara North for the governorship ticket of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the next year election.

“On a final note, the push of this administration is that wherever a leader comes from, it brings more development to that area. It is a natural thing.

“For Kwara North to feel greater impacts, our administration has decided to make sure that the next Governor of Kwara State comes from Kwara North,” he stated.

Speaking on behalf of the emir, the Somasun of Lafiagi, Alhaji Abubakar Usman, appreciated the governor for the visit and for the developmental projects by his government.

He specifically thanked the government for donating a Coaster Bus to the College of Education (Technical) Lafiagi to ease the mobility of staff.

He appealed for the reopening of the Gbugbu International Market to improve commercial activities and grow their economy. 

Lashan Pututa, Alhaji Ibrahim, for his part, said the Governor’s visit further demonstrates his leadership qualities and a commitment to the well-being of people of the community.

He commended Abdulrazaq for providing them good leadership and appealed to his government to assist in putting an end to their challenge. 

“There have been governors in Kwara state, both military and elected ones like Your Excellency.

What we have witnessed during your time is unique. We have not had it so good as you have done for us.

“This is Lafiagi ward 4, we have about thirty-one villages within the ward, all in the riverine area. We are just one single ward, but our votes count even more than some local governments in the state. 

“Since we have been practicing politics along with other people, we have not had a governor who would be stepping into our ward like you. You have been coming to this ward as if you were born here. Your contributions to our community are very enormous. We will reciprocate this kind gesture with our vote come 2027,” he stated.