Oyo state government Thursday warned those living close to flood-prone areas in the state to vacate the place pending when the current heavy rains would recede.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources , Hon Kehinde Ayoola handed down the warning during a visit to some flood prone areas in the state.
According to the Commissioner this became necessary to avoid loss of lives and valuable properties to flood that might arise from the expected heavy rainfall.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources who was with officials from the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, (IUFMP) during the visit to some areas where flood wrecked havoc on residents after it rained for over two hours on Tuesday 27th, August 2019.
Ayoola maintained that the present administration in Oyo state would not stand by watching community dwellers endangering their lives, adding that plans were rife by government to dredge and expand river channels at the Ona river at Olodo Community in Egbeda Local Government.
The Commissioner stressed that to prevent flooding, there is the need for Community dwellers to desist from dumping wastes into rivers, drainages and other water ways and also stop erecting buildings in flood-prone areas and for children to be guided when passing through water areas as a preventive measures to keep them from drowning as he spoke extensively with the people.
“The forecast has came to reality and you could see the level of the water of rivers and streams in the targeted areas. We do not need to wait to have dead victims and destroyed properties before we act. That is why we are visiting these areas to reinstate the warning for residents to vacate the areas and stop dumping indiscriminatelye,” he said.
Hon. Ayoola added, “the natural order would not allow anything to block waterways. Water body is powerful when it comes as a flood and flood is as a result of inability of the water to pass through its natural course. So government will soon start pulling down structures that are obstructing easy passage of water and those caught dumping refuse in these rivers will soon face the law.”
