THE Ogun State government has warned that 23 communities in the state and border towns in Lagos are likey to experience severe flooding this year.
Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, gave the warning on Wednesday, April 26, at a press briefing on the state’s Annual Flood Alert.
Affected communities are Onikoko, Sokori and Arakanga areas in Abeokuta, Owa and Yemule riverbanks in Ijebu-Ode, Eruwuru in Sagamu, Ebute Kimobi in Ijebu East, Isaka Owode in Ado Odo Ota, Owode, Igijo, Ilaro and Ijoko.
The communities will experience the first flash floods due to heavy rainfall between April and July, according to the commissioner.
The second season of downpours between September and November will have a prolonged impact on wetlands such as Alagbole, Akute, Isheri, Warewa, Oke-Afa, Mowe, Ibafo, Kara, Onihale, Ebute Kimobi, and Riverside Estate.
The commissioner said these areas would witness coastal flooding due to the tidal lock of the Ogun River by Lagos Lagoon from a natural rise in sea level, coupled with the possible release of excessive water from the Oyan dam.
He urged residents of these areas to prepare to relocate temporally when necessary.
Oresanya recalled the unprecedented 2022 flooding in Nigeria, where over 600 lives were lost, and about 2.4 million people were displaced.
In February,The ICIR reported that 32 states, including Ogun and Lagos, are at flood risk in 2023.
In his Wednesday briefing, the Ogun commissioner commended the leadership of the state Governor Dapo Abiodun for ensuring “environmental best practices”, which he said led to the little impact the 2022 floods had on the state.
He appealed to residents to desist from any act capable of inhibiting the free flow of water.
“Residents are advised to avoid dumping waste into drains, streams or rivers and patronise the reliable means provided by the Ogun State Waste Management Authority (OGWAMA) and the Private Sector Participants (PSP).
“Residents are advised to desist from the temptation of buildings on run-off routes and placement of temporary structures and containers or extension of business premises on top of drains in markets and public places. Also, there’s a need for caution on other man-made problems such as the illegal dredging of sand along the stream courses, especially in developed environments, uncontrolled agricultural practices, building on floodplains of streams/rivers and non-adherence to travel advice during rainfall.”
Besides, the commissioner advised communities in flood-prone areas to avoid drinking water from unprotected wells and boreholes to avoid outbreak of diseases due to possible contaminations of the wells.
“In realisation of the inter boundary impact of flooding, we wish to reassure residents of the state that we have effective collaboration with the management of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) and the neighbouring States of Lagos and Oyo, especially as it relates to the release of water from Oyan Dam. The residents will be duly informed ahead of time whenever OORBDA wishes to release the detained water beyond the daily thresholds for safety reasons.”
While appreciating the Presidential Committee for the Development of a Comprehensive Plan of Action for Preventing Flood Disaster for touring the state and the “positive impact” of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) intervention projects in the state, Oresanya called for more funding support to implement remediation of most of the gully challenges in the state.
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