Red Cross tasks Gombe schools on flood disaster preparedness, responsiveness

As part of its continued efforts aimed at mitigating flooding in the state through its periodic flood alert, Ogun State government has urged residents living in riverbank and wetland areas to prepare for overflow of Ogun River in the next two weeks, from October 20 to November 3, 2025.

The communities include Akute, Alagbole, Isheri, Magboro, Makogi, Orimerunmu, Iro, Kajola and part of Abeokuta, specifically Lafenwa, Enugada, Adedotun, Iberekodo, Akin-Olugbade, and Ago-Odo.

In the latest flood alert released, yesterday, by the state’s Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, the overflow from Ogun River would rise as a result of controlled release of water from Oyan Dam due to heavy rainfall from up-North that would increase the volume of water reaching the Dam from that part of the country which would be compounded by increase in tidal level.

The increase in water flow into the dam, according to the commissioner, would inevitably force the release of water from the dam that would affect the areas, urging residents of the areas to exercise caution and avoid loss of lives and property within the period.

Oresanya further emphasised the need for residents of the areas to avoid the riverbank while those in the wetlands should move to higher grounds or elevate their stay for now as the overflow becomes inevitable.

He, therefore, enjoined residents of the areas not to panic as the tide will go down in about 10 days as the mitigating measures from the state government cannot stop the activities of nature as the impact of climate change is felt more by the state as one of the coastal states in Nigeria.

Relatedly, the Nigerian Red Cross Society has charged schools in Gombe State on disaster preparedness and responsiveness, especially flooding, to safeguard the children.

Gombe State branch Secretary of the organisation, Murtala Aliyu, gave the advice, yesterday, during the launch of disaster risk reduction clubs, with support from Italian government and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) at Government Day Pilot Secondary School, Gombe, and Government Comprehensive Day Secondary School, Deba, Gombe State.

He explained that the initiative was due to the recurring of devastating flooding in the state during rainy seasons, noting that Billiri and Yamaltu-Deba local councils were seriously affected by flood disasters this year.