To the government and people of Ogun State, the fear of a flood that could wreak incalculable havoc to properties, even constituting a threat to lives is now the beginning of wisdom.
Of course, they cannot be blamed, flooding during the raining season has become a perennial source of headaches to the state.
Last year, for more than two weeks, people living and doing business in certain areas of the state were displaced and traumatised by flood.
Residents, traders and other business owners ventures situated in estates like Isheri Riverview, and other areas in Warewa, OPIC and along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were enmeshed in the watery situation.
They were sent packing time and time again by surging floods reportedly caused by the release of excess water from the reservoirs of the Oyan dam coupled with excessive rainfall.
The flood has become a regular occurrence in these areas, attributed not just to the release of water from the Oyan dam this time around, but to construction on waterways and climate change.
In the previous year also no fewer than 4,885 households were destroyed by flood in the state, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
NEMA’s Director-General, Mustapha Ahmed, revealed this while presenting relief materials to the Ogun State Government for onward distribution to victims of flooding across the state.
The D.G. who was represented by the Director of Special Duties, Dr Bandele Onimode, Ahmed maintained that the incident had claimed lives, displaced people, brought about loss of means of livelihood and socio-economic dislocation.
The NEMA boss narrated that flooding had destroyed several houses in the state, while hectares of cultivated farmlands had been submerged.
According to him, the world economic meltdown and pre-harvest food shortages had further exposed the vulnerability of those affected by the deluge.
Again, this year, NEMA has been shouting hoarse of impending flood in the state.
The Agency's seasonal climate prediction and the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) annual Flood outlook for 2024 had identified 31 states with 148 Local Government Areas predicted to be within the high flood risk areas, while 35 states including the Federal Capital territory with 249 LGAs were considered to fall within the moderate flood risk.
Ogun State falls squat in the high flood areas.
This explains the Ogun State government's determination to be prepared for the Armageddon to come.
The state government is now seeking the support and cooperation of stakeholders on environment, to further mitigate flooding and other global phenomenon.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Efuwape made the 'come to our rescue' call recently at her office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, during a meeting with representatives of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Nigerian Police Force, Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Community Development Associations (CDAs), Nigerian Red Cross, among others.
Mrs. Efuwape, said flood preparedness and waste management had been identified as two critical issues that affect health, environment and well-being of the people, acknowledging efforts of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Ogun State Emergency Management Agency (OGSEMA) on disaster prevention and management.
Efuwape, who noted that it was imperative to address the challenge of flooding and its danger to lives and property.
She noted that climate change across the world had contributed to global warming that the state was experiencing and commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for providing financial support to relevant agencies in managing the disaster.
Also speaking, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Abdul Lateef Benson said the present administration was poised to ensure safety of lives and property of the citizenry, encouraging CDAs members to register with the Ministry of Environment for the collection of Waste Can for proper refuse disposal, to prevent outbreak of epidemic in the state.
On her part, Director General, NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by the Director, NEMA, South West Zone, Mr. Olanrewaju Kadiri, again reeled out the National Meteorological Agency's and the Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency's (NIHSA) seasonal climate prediction for this year which weren't too
annual Flood outlook for 2024 had identified 31 states with 148 Local Government Areas predicted to be within the high flood risk areas, while 35 states including the Federal Capital territory with 249 LGAs were considered to fall within the moderate flood risk.
In their remarks, Director of Environment, Quality Control, Water Regulatory, Enforcement and Advocacy, Ministry of NEMA, Mr. Bode Shofela, said people need to seek the services of registered Waste Disposal Agencies, rather than dumping refuse in drainages, while his counterpart in Fire Services, Engr. Abdul Fatai Adefala, stated that most fire incidents recorded in the state were due to human error, advising people to prevent any circumstance that could cause a fire outbreak.
Responding on behalf of others, representatives of Nigerian Police Force, Divisional Police Officer, Ibara, and People Living with Disabilities, Messers. Balogun Lateef and Micheal Ebonhor respectively, lauded the ministry for the meeting, pledging their readiness to join hands with the state government in creating a healthy environment.
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