Worried by perennial flooding and its devastating effects during raining season, the Kwara State House of Assembly has directed the Physical Planning Authority to stop construction of buildings on waterways across the state.
The House on Wednesday equally urged the state government to commence resettlement plan for residents of riverine communities in all parts of the state to curb negative effect of flooding.
This was part of the Resolutions of the House, while considering a motion titled ” Mitigating the Effects of Flooding in Riverine Areas in Kwara State” moved by member representing Ojomu/Balogun Constituency, Hon Saheed Popoola and co-sponsored by members representing Afon and Edu constituencies, Hon Aliyu Abdulwahab Opakunle and Hon Ndamusa Mohammed Guyegi respectively.
The Speaker, Hon Yakubu Danladi, while reading the resolutions of the House, expressed displeasure over non-implementation of the existing laws and enjoined the House Committees on Health and Environment, Land Housing and Urban and Regional Planning to change the narratives by ensuring proper monitoring and implementation of the laws, to ensure permanent solutions of the problem.
Danladi, who enjoined the Clerk of the House, Hajia Halimat Jummai Kperogi, to acquaint members with copies of the State Emergency Management Agency and the State Environmental Protection Agency Laws, for possible amendment to meet contemporary challenges, equally advocated the establishment of Area offices of the two agencies provided by the law, in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the state to address flood problem.
The House also directed all the 16 Local Government councils to rise up to their statutory responsibility of constructing drainages, while the state government should open up more roads to mitigate the devastating effects of flooding across Kwara.
Other members who spoke on the motion, identified causes, places affected and measures that should be put in place to ensure enduring solution to flooding across the state.
