Lawmaker Seeks Probe Of Devastating Flood In Kwara

The member representing Edu/Moro/Patigi Federal Constituency of Kwara State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ahmed Saba, has called for the probe of the source of the water that recently flooded several rice farmlands in Songa, Edu local government area of the state.

Saba, who lamented the havoc done to rice cultivation in Shonga by the ‘suspicious’ flood promised to raise the matter on the floor of the House of Representatives as soon as it reconvenes.

He said he would use the avenue to officially call on the relevant federal government agencies to probe the recent flood disaster in Shonga.

LEADERSHIP Sunday recalls that a devastating flood, had penultimate Sunday, submerged about 3,000 hectares of rice plantation in Shonga community and its environs.

The federal lawmaker put the estimated cost of the damage done to the rice farm at N11.5 billion.

He noted that the victims, who engaged in dry season farming, were taken aback that their farmlands could be flooded when it wasn’t a rainy season that usually comes with heavy waterfall.

“A lot of farmlands were submerged by the water as a result of the opening of the river in Kanji and Jebba. It affected us seriously as billions of naira was lost. There are farmers who had established themselves here for the past three months. This flood came as a surprise, virtually to everyone. And this is a threat to food security in the country because a large number of people can be fed from this place.

“The House of Representatives is on recess. By the time the House reconvenes, we are going to come up with a motion for the House to look into the matter while the necessary agencies should also investigate why there is flood in dry season. We cannot say there is flood during rainy season and there is flood during dry season. It means something is wrong somewhere.”