As part of measures to prevent flood related disaster in Kwara State, the State House of Assembly has resolved to invite the State Commissioner for Environment and Forestry to brief it on the state's preparedness in forestalling flooding in the State.
To this end, the House Committee on Environment and Forestry has been directed to invite the State Commissioner for Environment and Forestry, Otunba Taiwo Joseph to brief members on the activities of his Ministry in maintaining the environment and prevent health hazards in the State.
This is part of the resolutions of the House, while considering a Motion on" Preventing Flooding in Kwara State" sponsored by a member representing Kaiama/ Kemanji/ Wajibe Constituency Hon. Ahmed Ibn Mohammed.
Reading the resolutions of the House, the Deputy Speaker, Elder Mathew Okedare, who presided over the Tuesday's sitting, said the motion was timely and expedient in view of the alert on flooding this year by relevant government agencies.
The House equally called on the State government to, as a matter of urgency, ensure regular and routine monitoring of the environment to prevent dumping of refuse on water ways.
It also enjoined the state government to liaise with the federal government on resettling all the communities along river banks to forestall attendant loss of lives and properties to flooding.
The Legislature also called on the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to declare a week as "operation clear your drainage" in the state, to ensure free flow of erosion as a precautionary measure against possible flooding in the State.
It equally urged the state government to intensify its advocacy efforts about the inherent dangers of flooding and living at river banks.
Hon Ibn Mohammed had while raising the motion, said the proactive measures of the state government would go along way in preventing the reoccurrence of incidence of flooding and its attendant loss of lives and property in Niger and Lagos States in Kwara.
Other members who spoke on the motion emphasised the need for government to make adequate preparation to mitigate against the effects of possible flooding in the State.
The House equally on Tuesday acknowledged the receipt of message from the Governor, Alhaji Abdul Fatah Ahmed, requesting the House to pass to bill, given legal backing to the establishment of the State Vocational Technical Entrepreneurship Development College, Ajase Ipo, while a Bill to amend the state Road Traffic Management Authority and Bill for a law to give legal backing to the establishment of International Aviation College Ilorin, passed through first reading at the floor of the House.
