The Kwara Government on Monday said it would embark on advocacy visits to flood prone areas in a bid to avert flood disaster in 2013.

The Chairman of the State Committee on Flood Disaster and Rehabilitation, Alhaji Mohammed Dabarako, disclosed this in IIorin at a news briefing.

Dabarako, who is also the state Head of Service, said that arrangement has been concluded by the Committee to commence the advocacy visits to five local government areas (LGAs) affected by flood in 2012.

According to him, the five LGAs prone to flood in the state are Patigi, Lafiagi, Kaima, Moro and IIorin South.

He said that members of the committee would make effort to persuade residents living in river banks to vacate in response to prediction of heavy rainfall in 2013.

Dabarako explained that the Committee would similarly visit the Management of Jebba Dam and Kainji Dam to implore them to release water from Dams before heavy rain sets in.

In his remark, the Governor's Special Adviser on Emergency and Relief Services, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, described havoc caused by 2012 flood as devastating to several residents in the state.

He said that the state government has embarked on measures aimed at averting the repeat of disaster recorded in 2012.

According to him, some of the measures are identification of flood flash areas, construction of bridges and culverts, sensitisation programme and construction of roads.

The special adviser commended the Federal Government for embarking on the dredging of Asa River in Ilorin, saying that it would  curb flooding in the area.

Abdullahi said the committee had produced jingles and leaflets in five indigenous languages in the state and English to alert residents in river banks to relocate. (NAN)