Residents of Bode Saadu in the Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State are counting their losses after Wednesday evening’s flooding, which was triggered by heavy downpours.
The flood, which submerged houses and displaced several families, was caused by the overflowing of the Arinun Bridge in the area.
The Nigerian Tribune reported that homes located near the riverbank were heavily flooded, forcing many residents to seek temporary accommodation.
The Bode Saadu community, situated along the Ilorin-Jebba federal highway and close to the Jebba Dam, experiences flooding regularly. Locals remarked that this time it was Bode Saadu’s turn to bear the brunt of the rains.
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Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq visited the flood-affected areas on Thursday to assess the damage and offer sympathies to the victims. He instructed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to provide immediate relief materials to those affected. The governor noted that many of the buildings would not have been impacted if residents had vacated the floodplains, urging locals to refrain from building on such vulnerable areas.
Accompanied by Commissioner for Special Duties, John Bello, and Special Adviser on Special Duties, Abdulrazaq Jiddah, Governor Abdulrazaq toured the community to get a firsthand account of the situation. The governor also mentioned that ongoing road construction on the Ilorin-Mokwa highway, which involves a temporary bypass, contributed to the flooding, and experts from the Federal Ministry of Works are working on a solution.
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“We are here to commiserate with the people of Bode Saadu and ensure that measures are taken to prevent this from happening again,” Governor Abdulrazaq said during the visit.
He also urged residents to observe building setbacks to avoid similar incidents in the future. “Half of the buildings wouldn’t have been affected if they had observed the right setbacks,” he added, promising intensified efforts to enforce regulations for the safety of all.
John Bello, who hails from the region, praised the governor for his timely intervention and concern for the welfare of the community.