Kwara launches probe into Shonga rice farms flooding

A delegation from the Kwara State Government has launched an investigation into the unusual flooding that submerged thousands of hectares of rice farmlands in Shonga, Edu Local Government Area. The visit, led by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Princess Bukola Babalola, included an assessment of the damage and delivery of relief materials worth millions of naira to farmers in the affected Tada community.

Speaking during the visit to the Shonga rice farms, Babalola assured the victims of the government’s commitment to mitigating the impact of the flooding and finding long-term solutions to prevent a recurrence. “We are here to see the damage done to the rice farms in Tada community. We will report back to His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to determine both immediate and future interventions. Help is on the way,” she said.

The delegation to the Shonga rice farms also met with the Emir of Shonga, Dr Haliru Yahya Ndanusa, and community leaders to discuss the flooding’s impact. The Emir described the incident as a serious threat to food security in the state and called for a thorough investigation to uncover the cause of the unusual flooding.

“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? This must have a local source,” the Emir said, adding that officials from Jebba Dam admitted to releasing water, raising concerns about proper management and authorisation.

Farmers in the Tada community, who hail from across the northern states, expressed despair over the losses incurred. Community leader Muhammad Abdulkadir disclosed that the flooding destroyed rice farms worth millions of naira, drastically affecting their annual yield of over three million metric tonnes.

“We thank the government for coming to our aid immediately, but this must not end here. A permanent solution is needed to address flooding in this area. The River Niger needs to be dredged,” Abdulkadir said.

The delegation, which included top government officials and stakeholders, pledged to prioritise the welfare of affected farmers and thoroughly investigate the situation. The state government is also exploring preventive measures, with a focus on mitigating potential food insecurity resulting from the incident.