Asa river claims one life, destroys properties

Stephen Oni,Ilorin

The Asa river in Afon, headquarters of Asa local government area, Kwara State, has over flown its bank, claiming one life and destroying properties worth several millions of naira in Ilorin metropolis following a torrential rain which lasted over 10 hours.

A member representing Afon constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon. Hamid Giwa Afolabi, disclosed this while speaking under matter of urgent public importance on Thursday during the plenary of the Housem

The legislator, who gave the name of the deceased as Mallam Abdulrasaq Nuru, described the overflow of the river as unprecedented and unfortunate, lamenting that the whole residents of Afon are still in mourning mood.

He said the overflow made the only bridge linking Afon with other communities such as Alapa, Ote, Ballah and Ogele impassable for both motorists and pedestrians, pointing out that the situation has paralysed the socio-economic activities of Afon since goods could no longer enter the town from neighbouring communities.

While blaming the incident on lack of embankment in the bridge, the legislator called on government to as a matter of urgency direct the contractor who handled the project to construct embankment to arrest future occurrence while also urging the House to investigate the cause of the overflow.

The Deputy Speaker, Prof. Gana Yissa, who presided over the plenary directed the House Committee on Energy, Works and Transport to examine what caused the overflow and report back to the House in a week’s time.

Aside Afon, other affected areas included Amilegbe, Aduralere, Ipata, Kontagoa street, off Taiwo road in Ilorin while some residential buildings, shops and Churches were submerged by the flood.