The Oyo State Government has declared that it has desilted over 153.11 km of blocked drainages and culverts along major roads in the Ibadan metropolis, as a proactive measure to avert flood disasters.

The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Architect Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, affirmed the figure, stating that the government saw it as imperative to clear the blocked drains and culverts of all debris like nylon, bottles, sand, wood, and tyres.

Represented by the Director of the Engineering Department of the Ministry, Engr. Oladipo Adebowale, the Commissioner said this will avert impending and avoidable flooding calamities in the state.

During the on-the-spot assessment tour of the Ministry officials, in conjunction with those of the Oyo State Project Performance Monitoring Agency and the Office of the Auditor General (State), the Commissioner commended the visionary steps of the present government on the desilting of the drainages and warned against further dumping of refuse in unauthorised places.

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He reiterated that blocking drains and culverts is a significant offence, which, aside from causing flooding, destroys the asphaltic layers of the roads, and warned that culprits of refuse dumping would face the wrath of the State Environmental Law.

Among the desilted drainages are: Total Garden to Beere, Iyaganku to Odo-ona, to Apata, Total Jericho to Aleshinloye Roundabout, Sango-Eleyele to Ologuneru, Ijokodo-Apete-Awotan, Olunde to Olojuoro Road, and several others.