Ekiti, Ondo, Osun govts assure residents of proactive measures to mitigate flooding

The governments of Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States have taken proactive measures to avert flooding and the possible loss of lives and properties, an investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) indicates.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had warned of heavy rains and flooding in parts of the country including Osun, Ondo and Ekiti States in year 2023.

A survey conducted by NAN in the three states, however, indicates that measures have been taken to mitigate flooding.

The governments have embarked on channelisation projects, construction of drains on roads, dredging of streams and waterways, destilting and clearing of drains, and even demolition of buildings and stalls on waterways in efforts to prevent flooding.

Mr Kolade Okeya, the Director, Ekiti State Environmental Protection Agency (EKSEPA), in an interview with NAN in Ado-Ekiti, said that the government since the beginning of the year had begun taking proactive measures to prevent any incidence of flooding in major towns in the state.

He said that the government was concerned about the challenges usually associated with the rainy season, most especially as the rains started early this year.

Okeya said that the state had been alerted by NIMET to possible flooding in three local government areas in the state, namely: Ado-Ekiti, Ikerre-Ekiti and Irepodun-Ifelodun.

The official said that consequently, the government had organised programmes including the use of jingles on radio to sensitise inhabitants of flood-prone communities to relocate to safer locations without delay.

A Geologist, Mr Ayo Omotosho, however, attributed the increasing incidents of flooding in many parts of Nigeria to human factors.

“Flooding in Nigeria is mainly human-induced by residents’ day-to-day activities and disregard of the ecosystem.”

He said that flooding can be controlled through proper urban planning, maintaining a balance of the ecosystem and provision of adequate environmental infrastructures.

Omotosho appealed to all Nigerians to take environmental issues more seriously and avoid any practices or habits that could disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.

Also, Chairman of Ikole Local Government Area, Mr Sola Olominu, said his administration had begun clearing and destilting drains to avoid flooding.