It is during emergency that we know who our heroes are. That is the reality as Ilorin, the Kwara state capital battles with the effect of flooding following a rain storm that devastated parts of the city earlier in the week. As a result of loss of properties by affected residents, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki decided to intervene. He directed that temporary accommodation be made available for the victims of Monday’s devastating flooding so as to relieve them of the basic need of man- shelter!
Happily, The Senate President’s assistance took off soon after the rain storm. Part of relief that reached the victims was food and other personal effects to hundreds of displaced persons in Ilorin metropolis. The flooding which has become a yearly occurrence affects different parts of the city. When one side is fixed, another side falls under the impact of the strong flooding with far reaching consequences. The areas most affected by the flooding included Oloje, Oko-Olowo, Eruda Alapata, Oja- Iya and Alagbado/Ayegbami areas.
Since the President of the Senate was not around, the Director-General of the Mandate Constituency Office, Ilorin, Alh Musa Abdullahi led his delegation on assessment tour of the affected areas. Moved by the plight of the victims who are his constituents, Saraki, had directed his constituency office in Ilorin to take swift action in meeting the immediate needs of the flood victims.
Abdullahi on behalf of Saraki sympathised with the victims and donated some relief materials to them. He asked those who could not find a place to sleep to report at the Mandate office where shelter had been provided for them. He said the Senate president will liaise with the state government on the need for the clearing of the blocked drainages to allow for easy passage of water when it rains.
We are elated with the prompt response from the Senate President who also represents the area at the Senate of the republic. We urge other public spirited individuals and corporate organizations to join hands with Saraki to assist the victims. This is a natural disaster and our people must learn how to help one another, especially in times like this. Just this week, Billionaire business man, Aliko Dangote, unveiled a housing estate worth N2 billion for Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in Borno state. Since the time of MKO Abiola, this is perhaps the biggest philanthropist that we have seen. The housing units are not the only acts of kindness towards victims of Boko Haram that Dangote has undertaken, but anything that has to do with shelter is most appreciated.
Therefore, we expect that more residents of Ilorin and lovers of people should rally round the victims of this unfortunate flooding and offer care and support. Making and giving hot meals is something.
Providing clothing to people who have lost everything is another. Providing counseling is also profound. We must learn to bond together during times of grief. We equally expect that both the state and national emergency management agency should have intervened. Every little help counts.
Expectedly, the Kwara state government has urged residents to remain calm following the rainstorm. It has equally pledged relief measures for victims. The state’s Commissioner for Environment, Mr Amos Justus, who spoke after inspecting areas affected by the flood in Ilorin on Tuesday, assured residents of the governments’ commitment to finding a permanent solution to the incessant flooding.
The commissioner added that in the meantime, the government will carry out soft engineering work that could curb the flooding and its effect and assured residents of the readiness of the State’s response team to deal any other emergencies. On their part, we enjoin residents to desist from dumping refuse indiscriminately especially in drainage channels. This is a practice that seems to have become part of our culture around the country. Nigerians like to dump refuse in drainages, just as they like to fling things out of moving vehicles.
We urge state governments to find a way to criminalize dumping of refuse in drainage channels. Not just that, a serious enforcement of such laws must be encouraged. Also, the use of nylon bags, plastic bottles should be regulated in the state. The state’s Physical Planning laws should equally kick in. no one should be allowed to leave near drainage channels, much less on it. Discipline is vital in addressing modern environmental issues.
