• cautions against indiscriminate refuse dump in drainages
Kwara State Government has sympathized with the residents of Ilorin whose houses were flooded as a result of the unusual downpour on Thursday night.
The government specifically commiserated with residents of Pakata area in Ilorin West Local Government where a mud house caved in, killing a woman in the process.
“We beseech Almighty God to grant the dead eternal rest and comfort the family. It was indeed an unfortunate incident,” the government said in a statement jointly signed by Commissioner of Environment Mrs Remilekun Banigbe and Commissioner for Works and Transport Rotimi Iliasu.
“Different teams of experts and administrators from the Ministries of Environment and Works & Transports have visited the various areas that were flooded. While government is already taking steps to attend to the Akerebiata bridge that partially caved in as a result of the downpour, we appeal to citizens to desist from indiscriminate dump of refuse in drainages and all waterways. Similarly, some people who had long built houses on waterways are another major reason this is happening.
“Apart from the obvious increase in rainfalls nationwide owing to climate change, incessant dump of waste in our drainage remains a major reason for the flooding, as refuse continues to block free flow of water. No matter how many drainage the government constructs and the number of times such drainages are desilted, continuous indiscriminate of refuse will always subject everyone to avoidable losses, hardship and embarrassment as we have seen over time.
“The government, meanwhile, urges residents of Akerebiata and all other road users to make use of the alternative route of Gambari-Sobi Road pending when the repair works on the bridge will be completed. The government regrets the inconveniences this might cause everyone.
“Once again, the government commiserates with the family of the woman who died in Pakata when the house collapsed in the aftermath of the downpour.”
E-Signed
Mrs Remilekun Banigbe
Hon. Commissioner for Environment & Hon. Rotimi Iliasu
Commissioner for Works and Transport