The residents of Ogo-Oluwa community, Matogbun, in Ifo Local Government of Ogun State, have appealed to the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, to save the community from extinction, as properties worth a billion naira have been destroyed by incessant flooding.

The development has caused many residents to become homeless, with many fleeing for their lives. It has transformed the community into a ghost town as water from other parts of Matogbun collects there due to the lack of a proper drainage system that could channel rainwater away.

Speaking against the backdrop of the perennial flooding in the area, the Chairman of the Community Development Association, Mr. Adewale Abayomi, disclosed that many homeowners abandoned their properties, while others sold theirs, as a result of the flooding.

“This is a yearly occurrence mostly caused by a lack of proper drainage to channel rain water to the right place.

“It is a big problem for the landlords and landladies. Every year, we contribute money to pump the water out of the area. Presently, we’ve been to the Ifo Local Government Council, and we also met with the chairman, and we have written several letters to the state government to come to our aid,” he said.

One of the residents, Mr. Sola Oguniyi, explained that the flood in the area has crippled commercial activities, and nothing seems to be working again in the community.

He noted that the flood led to schools’ closure, preventing children from attending, and described this as a negative sign for the country’s educational progress.