By Abdullahi Lukman
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Kwara State Emergency Management Agency (KWASEMA) have begun a joint assessment of damage caused by flooding in communities across Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The assessment followed heavy flooding that submerged farmlands, damaged houses and killed livestock in Pututa and neighbouring communities in Lafiagi Ward.
The assessment team commenced the exercise on Saturday at the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammad Kudu Kawu, before visiting affected communities to document the extent of the damage and losses.
KWASEMA Secretary, Saadu Magaji, expressed sympathy to the affected residents and said the findings would determine the assistance required from the state government and NEMA.
“We sympathise with all the victims of this unfortunate flood disaster, and we are here to assess the extent of the damage to determine the needed intervention,” Magaji said.
He urged residents living on floodplains and other vulnerable areas to move to safer locations whenever rainfall becomes intense, stressing that protecting lives remained the priority.
Magaji said the agencies were compiling a detailed report on the losses to guide the distribution of relief materials and other forms of assistance.
He also urged traditional rulers and community leaders to strengthen public awareness of flood early-warning alerts and safety measures.
The team visited several accessible communities, including Pututa, Esun, Efagi, Kpahso, Kpashakpako, Elumoba, Ebangi, Rupete, Eko, Edogi, Likpata, Gwondangi, Tswako, Gbarigi and Chewuru.
The exercise followed a visit by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to the affected communities two days earlier, during which he directed KWASEMA to document the losses.
The governor subsequently announced N10 million in immediate financial assistance for affected residents of Pututa.
AbdulRazaq said the recurring flooding in the area would require federal intervention, particularly the dredging of the River Niger, while noting that although the disaster destroyed significant property, no lives were lost.
