Flooding: Many Houses In Ilorin Sitting On Asa River Tributaries
Most houses in the Ilorin metropolis are sitting on water ways, says Sulaiman Rotimi Ilyasu, Kwara State commissioner for Works and Transport on Friday, adding that this is major cause of seasonal flooding in the state capital.
“Lots of houses in Ilorin are sitting on Asa River Tributaries according to Ilorin Masterplan,” explained the commissioner while on tour of flood prone areas like Yidi Road, Ibadan Road Adewole, and along Ilorin Ajase IPO road, the last being a federal road.
The Commissioner also pointed out that poor waste disposal and management culture also adds to the seasonal flood problems in the state.
Flooding costs the state government an estimated N1 billion a year, spent on relief for victims, desilting of blocked drainages and temporary repairs.
Ilyasu further added that shoddy jobs done by contractors hired by previous administration hasn’t helped in the management of the situation.
For instance, part of the problem in the Yidi Road flooding is that narrow rings were used to channel water which are easily blogged by wastes coming with the flood.
“In this case on Yidi Road, you have a point 4 ring used instead of something bigger, like point point 8,” the commissioner said.
Same case happened at Ilorin-Ajase Road, Ibadan Road in Adewole and many other places, the commissioner stated.
The commissioner also pointed out that people should stop harmful practices like building on waterways and pouring waste into gutters.
” Don’t build on water ways. Building on waters puts many people in danger. If people come together to vote for the governor, same people must help the governor govern well.
“From details of Ilorin Master plan, it is so clear that many houses in ilorin are sitting on water ways.
“If you put your house on water way how do we help you?
“They will have to go for the good of all.
“But for now, we will see how we can raise money to build colvert,” Ilyasu said.
