Unusual flooding has destroyed rice farms worth millions of naira in Shonga, Edu Local Government Area in Kwara State.
This is as the state Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has inaugurated a high-level committee to investigate the unusual flooding that submerged thousands of hectares of rice farm
In a statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, the committee has been tasked with conducting a fact-finding mission to the affected areas.
The delegation is also to deliver the government’s condolence message to the Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahyah Ndanusa (OON), and the victims.
The Emir of Shonga expressed shock over the incident, describing it as unprecedented at a time when no rainfall had been recorded.
He called for a thorough investigation to determine the cause of the flooding, noting that it could jeopardize food security in the state.
“From here to Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso, Niger Republic, and Mali, there was no rain. The Sahel is dry. How can there be a flood here? The source of this flood must be local,” the Emir said.
He disclosed that preliminary inquiries ruled out Kainji Dam as the source but pointed fingers at Jebba Dam.
“We have asked Kainji Dam, and they said it wasn’t from them. But Jebba Dam could not deny it. They admitted they released water and said they would soon close it. We hope this does not happen again next year to avert food insecurity,” he added.
The Emir called on the state government to investigate if the water release from Jebba Dam was authorized and ensure measures are put in place to prevent a recurrence.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Princess Bukola Babalola, visited the affected community to assess the damage.
The delegation also delivered relief materials worth millions of naira to farmers in Tada, a community severely impacted by the flooding.
“We are here to see the damage done to the farmlands, especially the rice farms in Tada community. We will report back to His Excellency, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who is committed to finding both immediate and long-term solutions to this crisis,” Babalola said.
She assured the victims that the government would provide support to mitigate the losses and prevent future occurrences, while expressing gratitude to the community for their patience and cooperation.
Community leaders revealed that farmers from across the northern states, including Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, and Niger, had lost millions of naira worth of rice to the flooding.
Muhammad Abdulkadir, a leader in Tada, said, “Our farmers here produce over three million metric tonnes of rice annually when there’s no flooding.
“This incident has wiped out their investments. We need urgent government assistance and a permanent solution, which is to dredge the River Niger.”