An unprecedented flood has devastated rice farms valued at millions of naira in Shonga, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, sparking concerns over food security and the livelihoods of farmers in the region.
In response, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has inaugurated a high-level committee to investigate the cause of the unusual flooding, which submerged thousands of hectares of rice farms.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, revealed that the committee is tasked with conducting a thorough fact-finding mission to the affected areas. The delegation will also deliver the government’s condolence message to the Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahyah Ndanusa (OON), and the affected farmers.
Emir of Shonga Expresses Concern
The Emir of Shonga described the incident as unprecedented, noting that it occurred during a period of no recorded rainfall. “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,” he said.
Preliminary investigations ruled out Kainji Dam as the source of the flooding, with indications pointing to 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,” the Emir added.
The Emir called on the state government to investigate whether the water release from Jebba Dam was authorized and urged for measures to prevent future occurrences.
Government Delegation Visits Affected Areas
A delegation led by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Princess Bukola Babalola, visited the impacted community to assess the extent of the damage. Relief materials worth millions of naira were distributed to farmers in Tada, one of the worst-hit communities.
“We are here to see the damage done to the farmlands, especially the rice farms in Tada. 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 of the government’s commitment to providing support and implementing measures to prevent a recurrence.
Farmers Call for Permanent Solutions
Community leaders disclosed that farmers from across northern states such as Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, and Niger had suffered significant losses.
Muhammad Abdulkadir, a leader in Tada, highlighted the severity of the situation, saying, “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.”
With the government’s intervention and investigations underway, affected farmers and stakeholders are hopeful for sustainable solutions to avert future disasters.