The Federal Executive Council (FEC's) recent approval of N1.234 billion for the dredging and channellisation of Asa river came to both the government and the people of Kwara State as a cheering news and huge relief.

Both the present and past government officials in the state are elated about the development. Local newspapers and airwaves of the electronic media were filled with words of commendation for the FEC, the state government and the chief initiator of the project, Senator Bukola Saraki.

Asa dam which is the major source of water supply to the people of Ilorin and its environs derives its supply from Asa river which originated from Asa local government area of the state.

But just as the river serves as a source of life to the people – as the adage says 'water is life', so also it serves as a source of sorrow to the residents of the state capital, especially those living along its banks.

The Asa river, over the years has the tendency of overflowing its banks, especially during the rainy seasons and this had in the past resulted in serious flooding which leaves in its wake, so much destruction of lives and property.

Therefore, the enthusiasm and euphoria that greeted the FEC's approval for the release of funds for the channellisation of the river did not come to keen observers of the event as a surprise.

Efforts were made to get the dam channelised commenced in 2009, following a devastating flooding that displaced thousands of Ilorin residents from their ancestral homes.

The situation was terrible to the extent that the state government had to relocate the victims to Hajj camp at Adewole area of the state capital.

Worried by the development, the former governor of the state, Senator Bukola Saraki sought the federal government's intervention.

And soon after Saraki's bold move, the former minister of Housing and urban development, Hajia Halimat Tayo Alao came home with the cheering news that the federal government had approved funds for the channellisation of Asa dam and its tributaries.

The joy of both the government and people of the state on this was, however, short-lived as a result of the sudden death of the then president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua.

However, when Senator Bukola Saraki became the chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology, he seized the golden opportunity to renew the agitation for the approval of the project.

Saraki's efforts paid off last week when the FEC approved the release of N1.234 billion for the commencement of the project.

Though the FEC approved N1.234 billion for the project, the chief campaigner for the channellisation of Asa dam, Senator Saraki said the project would gulp over N6 billion.

He disclosed that the project would be done in about three phases, adding that more than N1 billion had been approved and mobilised for the commencement of the project in its first phase.

The Senator, who represents Kwara Central senatorial district, said that the project would finally tackle the problem of Asa dam flooding, which he said had been with the people for many years.

Saraki lamented the loss of lives and property occasioned by flood and erosion in the area in the past, promising that his committee would "definitely see to it that the project is completed and done properly so that relief will finally come to the people of the area".

He reasoned that the project, when completed, would add to the beautification of Ilorin, adding that more importantly is the safety of lives and property in the affected areas of the capital city.

Senator Saraki, who said the issue of climate change had made it difficult to predict the degree of some of the issues of environmental disasters in the country, added that the nation should start looking at the issue of ecological problem not on the level of emergency or contingency.

He added: "You know ecological fund is used as intervention fund but some of the issues are not intervention any more, like flooding, erosion. So, we need to go back to the drawing board and see how we can get adequate funding for these environmental issues that need to be addressed on regular basis.

"Am sure we will have heavy amount of rainfall this year as we enter the rainy season. The limitation we have is how to fund some of the exercises needed to prevent this catastrophe. By and large, we are working with the executive to see how to go about that. It's difficult, because the total budget that came for environment in 2012 was less than what it got in 2011, more so with many challenges of some uncompleted projects or some that were never done".

In his remark, the permanent secretary of the state's ministry of environment and forestry, Dr. AbdulRasaq Amuda said the approval for the project came at a very auspicious time.

The rainy season is coming and Asa river is one of the rivers that causes ecological problems, he noted.

"But a state like ours can not solve the problem on its own. There are very few states in Nigeria that can try that on their own. It requires federal government's efforts, so we are very happy about this development".

He disclosed that the state government has commenced the desilting of the Asa river, clearing drainages and enforcing environmental laws to prevent residents from dumping refuse into the river.

He added: "The ministry had to clear illegal refuse dump sites close to the river. All around Asa river; from where it goes through the metropolis, all the people who have sheds, shanties have been asked to clear out".

Meanwhile, the state's commissioner for housing and urban development, Mr. Bode Olayemi has warned the residents of Ilorin particularly those residing along the bank of Asa dam to vacate their houses.

Olayemi reminded the affected residents that work would soon commence on the channellization of Asa river following the federal executive council's approval for the commencement of the much -talked about project.

It could be recalled that government had in 2009 following the devastating flood that occurred when Asa river over flew its bank marked some buildings along the  river bank for demolition.

But the occupants of the marked buildings have refused to vacate them, in spite of the danger the dilapidated buildings pose to their lives and property.

The first rain recorded in Ilorin a forthnight ago was accompanied with heavy storm that claimed the lives of seven members of the Deeper Life Bible Church at an Easter retreat at Eyenkorin, outskirt of Ilorin.

Most of the roads in the down town Ilorin were also littered with debris as a result of blocked drainages.