The Oyo State Government on Thursday called on people living in flood-prone areas to vacate their respective locations.
The government advised the affected residents to vacate the areas pending the period the current heavy rains would recede.
It maintained that the need to vacate the areas was necessary in order to avoid loss of lives and valuable properties to the flood.
Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Kehinde Ayoola gave this warning when alongside officials from the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, (IUFMP) visited some areas where flood wrecked havoc on residents after it rained for over two hours on Tuesday.
Ayoola, while speaking said that it has been established that certain actions aggravate flooding such as dumping of wastes on river channels and waterways and such acts lead to blockage of drainage and river channels.
He said, “The areas where the rivers and streams overflowed their banks in Ibadan include Ogundipe and Arikemase community at Olodo area of Egbeda local government in Ibadan.
“A good number of buildings in those areas were erected on waterways and road setbacks, especially in the flood -prone areas, warning that it would not be business as usual anymore.
“It would be recalled that during the last workshop programme on flood forecast, early warning service and implementation, it was categorically stated that Oyo State was likely to experience flooding this September due to the climate change, hence the need for residents living in such flood-prone areas to vacate immediately so as to avert loss of lives and properties.
“The forecast has come 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 indiscriminately.
“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,” he announced.
Ayoola further stated that the present administration 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.
To prevent flooding, Ayoola advised 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.
Ayoola reiterated that to achieve a disaster-free and flood free communities, all hands must be on deck, charging the people to comply with the State’s environmental laws when carrying out their legitimate business.
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