Sen. Bukola Saraki
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, Senator Bukola Saraki said the Federal Government was responsible for the flood in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
Saraki said its failure to complete the channelization of the River Asa in Ilorin led to the loss of property worth millions of naira by residents living on the river’s path.
The contract for the channelisation of the river was awarded during the administration of the late President Umaru Yar’adua, but work did not begin until about three years ago.
Saraki, who visited residents of affected areas at southern end of the river at the weekend, said his committee would invite the minister of Environment and the Ecological Fund Unit in the Presidency to shed light on the matter when the Senate reconvenes after the holidays.
He said there was no excuse for not completing the project, urging the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist those displaced by the flood.
Saraki said: “If the job was done according to the programme, we could have avoided the destruction of over 300 houses. The non-completion of the contract is responsible for the displacement of the occupants of the flooded houses and some people are responsible for that. Somebody must be held accountable; somebody must ensure that the contractors’ claim of paucity of fund is rectified. More funds should be released to the contractors.
“We are lucky that no life was lost. The funds are available, so they should be made available to the contractors. This is the kind of thing that made us review the efficacy of the ecological funds. If necessary steps are not taken and flooding happens again, God forbid, lives might be lost. There is need for prompt action and the state government has written NEMA to ensure that relief materials are provided for the victims.
“The people don’t care about who is at fault between the awarding ministry and the contractors, all they want is for the job to be done. Any further damage or loss of life will amount to recklessness on the part of those responsible for the project. NEMA and the Federal Government should compensate the victims. If the job was concluded on schedule, we would not witness what is happening today”.
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