The Kwara State Government has warned members of the public that there will be an upswing in the volume, duration and pattern of rainfall which in turn will lead to massive flooding.

According to the government, this pending development, can be attributed to the effect of climate change on the environment, most especially, at Kosubosu community and other riverine areas of the state particularly in the Kwara North Senatorial District, North Central Nigeria.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (Nimet) had earlier warned of such devastating flooding. This is contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Environment, Mrs Samuel Elizabeth.

According to her, the unfriendly change in the climate is caused by natural phenomena hence the need to prepare for it in order not to catch Kwarans unaware.

The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq had since inception swung into action on the challenges associated with this change through the Asa River dredging, construction of embankment, delisting of drainages, provision of additional waste bins and expansion of the dump site for proper waste disposal.

Similarly, she said the governor has encouraged waste recycling, irrigation system for farmers, and regular advocacy and sensitizations on environmental issues via the media and face-to-face interaction and enforcement.

Mrs Elizabeth therefore implored all the people living in the Riverine Areas or other related and flood affected Areas to migrate from such environments to conducive and habitable environments for the safety of life and properties.

In addition, to avert loss of lives and property, the Permanent Secretary urged the good people of the state to get all necessary approvals before embarking on buildings of any kind, desist from building houses close to or on the waterways, heed flood warnings, stop dumping refuse along water courses, delisting their surrounding drainage and stop open burning of refuse.

She also stressed the need to plant trees, and to promptly alert the ministry on environmental issues around them as the government is doing all that is possible within its resources to encourage sustainable living and provide sustainable relief for Kwarans within the environmental spaces.

The Permanent Secretary reminded members of the public that it is the collective responsibility of every citizens in the state to improve the quality of their environment to make it a better place for all and sundry.