Flood destroys homes and rice farms in five Lafiagi communities

Flooding after a heavy downpour on Tuesday destroyed homes and rice farms in five farming communities in Lafiagi, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigerian Tribune reports. No lives were lost.

The affected communities are Pututa, Tswako, Likpata, Godangi and Ekko, all in Lafiagi Ward 4. A source of drinking water was also destroyed.

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq visited the area, directed the State Emergency Management Agency to take inventory of losses, and gave N10 million for immediate needs including medical care, food and drinking water. He said dredging the River Niger is the lasting solution but is beyond the state, and that he will keep engaging federal agencies.

At the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, the governor also defended zoning the governorship to Kwara North. "Our administration has decided to make sure that the next Governor of Kwara State comes from Kwara North," he said. He added that the government would look into reopening the Gbugbu International Market, which was closed for security reasons.