The recent devastating flood which affected some parts of Kwara state seems to be a blessing in disguise for the affected communities going by the way the state government intends to deploy the N300m intervention fund approved for the state by the Federal Government. Kwara, by its classification as a third class in the index of the states ravaged by the flood, was given the sum of N300 million by the Federal Government to cushion the effect of the natural disaster which swept across the six local government areas of the state.

Investigations by the LEADERSHIP SUNDAY showed that the administration of Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed plans to use the larger percentage of the N300 million intervention fund to construct rural roads and electrification projects in the flood-ravaged communities.

It was gathered that rural roads that have been slated for construction in the flood-ravaged communities are Patigi- Esugi Ferry road, Rogun- Koro road, Patigi-Gbaradogi road, Belle - Gbere road, Kpatayiringi - Tada-kusogi road, Degeji - Gbajibo road and Arrefunwe street. The rural electrification projects, according to a government source, would be carried out in Moro, Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas at the cost of N61million.

Some parts of Edu and Patigi Local Government areas have been in darkness over lack of transformers. It is therefore not surprising that the government had decided to use part of the flood intervention fund to provide the much -needed electricity for the people of these councils.

Though, the state government had embarked on a large- scale rural road construction, spending over N2 billion in the process, it intends to use part of the fund to construct more rural roads in the areas that have not been captured in the areas affected by flood in the northern axis of the state.

It will be recalled that over 12, 000 Kwarans were displaced by floods in Edu, Patigi, Moro, Kaiama, Baruteen and Ilorin East Local Government areas of the state. Large expanse of farm lands were also washed away by the ravaging floods.

During his recent visits to the affected communities, the state governor, Alhaji AbdulFatah Ahmed called for the removal of all bureaucratic and other bottlenecks hindering the take off of the Hydro-electric Producing Areas Commission (HYPADEC) so that the pains of flood victims in the hydro energy producing communities could be assuaged while the impacts of future flooding could be better managed.

Ahmed made this call at the palaces of Etsu Patigi, Alhaji Ibrahim Chatta Umar and Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Saidu Kawu Haliru, just as the two paramount rulers called for the take-off of the dredging of the Niger River up to Jebba in order to reduce the devastating effects of the menace

Ahmed, who presented relief materials procured from the over N340 million Kwara state and Federal Government relief funds to the people of Patigi and Lafiagi in Patigi and Edu local government areas of the state, noted that flooding has thrown up a lot of challenges as fishing, farmlands and other sources of livelihood of the communities along the banks of River Niger and Kaduna have been destroyed adding that, "When the issue of HYPADEC was mentioned as a commission to be set up to take care of those communities , it was a very welcome development. We have since been looking forward to its full take-off so that these communities can begin to see that they are also put into consideration and feel a sense of belonging on issues affecting their livelihood and support".

While presenting the relief materials, which included over 920 bags of rice, 850 bags of cement, 605 pieces of fishing nets over 700 pieces of Ankara print wax to women and guinea brocade for men, roofing sheets, nails, among others, at separate ceremonies in the two communities, Governor Ahmed assured them that his administration would continue to be responsive to their aspirations and make life more comfortable to them through the provision of infrastructural facilities.

The Governor described the relief materials to the affected communities as a first step palliatives, promising that the government would continue to work towards their permanent rehabilitation. He called on well-meaning individuals to join hands with the state government in providing lasting succour to the victims.

He said it has become manifest that the flooding has become regular and with devastating consequences due to the global climatic change, and therefore emphasized that communities at the banks of the rivers must prepare to be relocated further from the banks to reduce the impacts of flooding whenever it occurs. "I do know that it is very emotional to relocate to another place, but there is more to life than staying in an ancestral home", he added.

The two traditional rulers also emphasised that the early take off of HYPADEC would bring a lot of succour to the people living around the banks of River Niger.