Ilorin: When rain becomes a burden

Rain is considered a blessing from the creator as it comes with loads of relief, not only to the farmers who would be hoping for it in abundance to enable them record bumper harvest, but to every human being as well as animals, as a soothing balm after experiencing hot weather in the dry season. Therefore, the season is usually anticipated every year for high productivity and hope that come with it. Meanwhile it should be noted that it also creates lots of apprehension whenever it is delayed.

However, to the residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, rainy season comes with mixed feelings. This is because while it serves as source of blessing to some residents, rainy season in the city poses problem for some others due to what they usually experience throughout this season. To such victims, they never pray for rain because of their experiences anytime the season commences.

Unfortunately, majority of the residents in the ancient city obviously have become accustomed to the age long tradition of throwing refuse in the drainages whenever it rains. Investigations have proved that such practice in no small way has continued to contribute to the perennial flooding in Ilorin. The situation not only makes it very difficult for water to flow freely anytime there is heavy downpour, it creates gory sights to behold on the streets and major highways after the rain.

The streets are always filled with filth and rubbish, while on many occasions some residents whose homes lacked toilet facilities make use of such avenue to dispose off their human wastes, which they throw in the drainages and these unfortunately spill over to the roads whenever the drainages have been blocked. These spilled over dirt and wastes are left for the Kwara Waste Management Company sweepers to pack. Several hours after the rain might have stopped they would be seen packing the filth across the length and breadth of the city.

Aside from causing untold hardship for residents whose houses' frontages are usually filled with dirt after the rain, it has reportedly on many occasions caused serious conflict among neighbours in the community. Prominent areas guilty of such practice are Isalekoto, Edun, Baboko, Emirs Road, Ita Kure, Oloje, Alore, Agbo-Oba, Oja-Tuntun, Ipata, Ojagboro, Karuma, Isalekoko, Taiwo Isale, Ita Amodu, Okelele, Alagbado and several others. Therefore, the canals are filled with refuse and debris leading to flooding of the streets.

Regrettably, there are debris now pilling up in the Asa River, which for some years has been undergoing channelization by the Federal Government. The intervention undoubtedly has assisted tremendously in reducing the menace of flooding in the city.

Equally, it is observed that majority of the drainages in the city are not wide enough to contain large volume of water whenever it rains, the situation, unfortunately allows for flooding in the city. Also, several drainages have been blocked with either debris or sand and have remained unclear.

Presently, flooding could be noticed in some prominent areas in the state capital such as Post Office, Offa Garage, Irewolede, Unity and Airport road among others whenever it rains in Ilorin, a situation which always makes it difficult for both motorists and passers-by to move freely. The development has forced several car owners to become victims of flooding as they continue to spend heavily in order to fix their vehicles once they pass through such areas while it is raining.

Commenting on the development, a resident of Edun in Isalekoto, Ilorin South Local Government, who identified herself as Mrs Ijaya, while speaking with National Pilot lamented the situation, stating that her house is positioned in such a way that they are always at the receiving end after the rain.

Ijaya said the refuse always block the drainage and make the water to overflow and bring out the dirt to their doorstep, leaving them to pack the refuse after the rain.

“You need to visit after the rain to understand what I am talking about. The way our house is, it is positioned in such a way that drainage pass in front of our house and by the time the drainage is blocked we will bear the brunt. Not only refuse, some will pack excreta and throw it in the drainage while it is raining. But we have no option than to pack them otherwise, we will never be comfortable.

“The kind of odour that emanates after the rain is unimaginable. We have appealed to the people in the community severally but they would not listen as it always fall on deaf ears and it is not easy going around monitoring people during the rain.

“Health officials should prosecute any offender caught in the act so that they can serve as deterrent to others”, she said.

She called on the Ministry of Environment officials to intensify efforts at sensitising the public more on the effect of such unhygienic practice which, she noted, would at the long run affect all and sundry.

Another resident, Mrs Salamat Hamza, described such occurrence as unfortunate in the city, saying that in the 21st century, she could not imagine such practice would still be on, especially in the state capital.

Hamza said on several occasions, she has fought some of her neighbours who engaged in such unwholesome and unhygienic practice, calling on government and other environmental agencies saddled with the responsibility to rise to the occasion.

According to her, dumping refuse in the drainages whenever it rains would continue to make nonsense of the state government’s efforts at maintaining the 'clean and green' programme in the state. This is because whenever you go out after rain, you are sure to see so much dirt on the streets.

I have fought some of my neighbours in the past for engaging in such practice but at a time, I had to leave them because they are used to it.

It is believed that environmental health officials and other agencies saddled with the responsibilities of maintaining clean environment in the state would rise to the occasion in order to have a hygienic environment that is safe, clean and healthy.

Also, it is imperative for the state government to act fast on the issue in order to salvage the situation which has become perennial problem and causing untold hardship to the residents in the city.

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