Environmental degradation has been a major source of concern for the people of Abata Jagun Community, Ifesowopo, Okelele in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara State as their homes have been ravaged by gully erosion.
Abata Jagun is one of the communities around Alagbado Area connecting Government Day Secondary School, Karuma, Akerebiata, Ilorin.
The community has been facing serious erosion problems for more than twenty years.
While reacting to the erosion, some of the residents of the described the it as unbearable.
Chairman of Abata Jagun Community, Mallam Solihu Ariyo, decried the degree of devastation the erosion has caused to the environments.
Ariyo expressed his displeasure, noting that the development had hindered social and economic growth.
He furthered that the erosion has forced a lot of residents out of their various houses, a situation he said is very pathetic.
He lamented that their children have not been going to schools as the erosion has cut off the community from accessing other parts of Ilorin metropolis.
According to him “The problem of erosion in our community has become a source of worry and serious concern to us as residents. This ugly development which has been ravaging our community for many years, has rendered many residents homeless.
“Those of us that are still residing in the community at the mercy of God, could not sleep with our eyes closed especially any time it rains. We could not access basic amenities as the water pipe which supplied water from Sobi Dam to the community had been destroyed and washed away by the erosion.
“In addition to that, the transformer which supplies electricity to the community is almost uprooted by the erosion. This has caused a serious apprehension among the residents because if urgent steps are not taken, the community may be in black out till only God knows”.
Ariyo, however, called on both national and subnational governments to assist in channeling and dredging of the river in the community.
He also appealed to the federal lawmakers representing the state to ensure the project is captured in the budget under the ecological funds.
Another community leader, Alhaji Yahaya Cisse, therefore, maintained several efforts by the leadership of community to lobby the previous administrations in the state execute the project has proved abortive.
