Osun assures residents on combating flood

From Fisayo Akinduro, Osogbo
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The Osun State government has assured residents of taking necessary proactive measures to mitigate the threat posed by this year’s flooding.

The Supervisors for the ministries of Works, Science and Technology, Mr Remi Omowaye and his counterpart for Environment, Dr Adebisi Obawole disclosed this during an emergency inspection tour to flooded areas in Osogbo.

They also called on the Federal government to assist in dredging River Osun.

It will be recalled that the river Osun overflowed on Saturday morning sacking residents from their houses.

Omowaye ascribed the incident to climate change which is responsible for the rise in water level causing River Osun to overflow its natural cause.

According to him,” many countries with advanced technology and environmental protection mechanism are also battling with the challenges posed by climate change, manifesting in flooding, excessive heat and storms.”

In his part, the Supervisor for Environment, Dr Obawole noted that River Osun has many tributaries from the neighbouring states of Ekiti and Ondo and other local governments in the state that already have high volume of water, therefore flowing into the Osun River.

He said government had mobilised for the dredging of River Osun to forestall further flooding which would still occur between September and November as predicted by Niemet.

Obawole called on the Federal Government to assist the state in dredging the Osun River going by the huge amount required for the exercise.

The Supervisors however charged the people to desist from throwing debris and other solid wastes into the river and other streams in the state to avoid the havoc that would be wrecked by flooding once the water could not flow freely.

They urged residents to make use of the 293 Osun emergency toll free number incase of flood emergency.

Apart from Oke Arungbo, Abija, Capital and Ataoja Estate affected by Saturday’s flooding in Osogbo m, the natural phenomenon also left its woes on farming communities in Ibokun Local government. specialized drone was deployed by the Osun Government to analyze the impact of the heavy downfall.

In Obokun town, the flood which covered more than 3 kilometers on the Obokun/ Osogbo/ Ijebu Ijesa road, destroyed over 20 hectares of farmlands.

NIEMET had earlier this year listed Ibokun and IlaOrangun local governments as the high risk area to flooding, while it equally mentioned that 15  other councils would have a touch of flooding this raining season.