Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has today paid a solidarity visit to victims of last Saturday’s rainstorm in Ilorin metropolis.
The governor toured various areas affected by the rainstorm which blew off the rooftops of hundreds of residential and commercial buildings and rendered thousands homeless.
Lawmaker representing Kwara Central at the Senate, Dr Ibrahim Yahyah Oloriegbe was also in the company of the governor and other government officials in what was described as an on-the-spot assessment.
AbdulRazaq, who just returned from Abuja, had met with the President, Muhammadu Buhari to discuss the travails of residents affected by the storm.
Both the governor and the senator restated their commitment to supporting the victims of the deadly tragedy.
“AbdulRazaq commiserated with the victims and reassured them of government’s solidarity and its willingness to assist them within available resources — while relevant federal government agencies are expected to also come through for them,” according to a statement by Rafiu Ajakaye, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor.
“I was with the president yesterday and I have passed the message to His Excellency and I am sure that the right things will be done.
“National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) are already collating some data and the response is going on. This has happened at the same time with flooding at Jebba, Lafiagi and Patigi local governments, and others.
“This incident is part of the global ecological problems we are facing. But we also need to check the way we dump garbage in the water, planting of trees and find ways of reducing the impact of ecological problems that we suffer from,” AbdulRazaq advised.
For his part, Oloriegbe said efforts are ongoing with the state and federal governments to assist the people as soon as possible.
He said: “The message to my constituents is to sympathise with them over the incident. I have been in consultation with His Excellency Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and we waited for him to first report directly to the President.
“We have contacted the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Director of Operations in the office for the government to act. But there is need for specific data of those affected which is being collated by Kwara State Emergency Management Agency and will be submitted to NEMA.
“The Governor, through the state government, is also making great efforts and personally, as the senator representing Kwara Central, I will also make (available) some palliatives such as (500 bundles of ) iron sheets, mattresses and blankets. The materials will be donated directly to the poorest who may need it the most. I am appealing to the community and religious leaders to ensure that this is done.”
In a related development, a government team led by Kale Belgore, Special Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor has kickstarted the delivery of food palliatives to Kwara North senatorial districts, beginning with Jebba town in Moro Local government and Lafiagi in Edu Local government area.