By Demilade Michael
Ahead of this year's raining season, people living in flood-prone areas in Ogun state have been advised to relocate or create a higher elevation within their residences.
Speaking on Tuesday at the 4th Ogun State Flood Alert for 2024, the State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya noted that some local governments in the state have been identified to experience flash and urban flooding.
Recall that last year, some communities in the state, including Isheri, Sagamu, Abeokuta, Ilaro, Agbara and others witnessed heavy flooding that claimed livestocks and properties.
The Commissioner while encouraging farmers to begin planting, advised those involved in poultry businesses against stocking density due to the predicted above normal temperature.
“Out of the twenty local government areas in the state, sixteen are expected to have highest rainfall with over 1700mm while those with lowest rainfall are Imeko Afon (1541mm), Odeda (1658mm), Abeokuta North (1675mm) and Abeokuta South(1699mm).
“Due to this prediction, residents living on wetland areas are advised to relocate to a safer ground or create higher elevation within their residence before the rain commences fully.
“For agricultural purposes, the length of the growing season for the coastal areas of the season ranges between 250 to 292 days, while that of inland areas is between 200 to 250 days.
“Our farmers are therefore encouraged to start planting from now (April) while those involved in poultry businesses are advised against stocking density during this stress period, which has started two months back till next month due to the predicted above normal temperature.
Oresanya revealed that the state government has increased its effort it in combating the threat of flooding by building 2,975.6 metres of mini bridges and culverts, clearing and deslting 56,150 metres of river and stream courses and deslting 40,000 metres of drainage channel across the three senatorial districts.
Some of the areas includes; construction of drainage channel and culverts at Wesley Primary School, Ijebu-Ode, reconstruction of dilapidated culvert at Saje dumpsite road, Apakila (Abeokuta), Igbosoro (Ogijo, Sagamu LGA), Imasai; deslting of rivers/stream courses at Yemule (Ijebu-Ode), Sensen river (Sagamu), Onibuku (Ota), Ode-Funfun (Oja-Odan), Opa Are (Isheri), Sekari river and tributaries while deslting of drainages channel will takes place at Abeokuta, Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ilaro, Ota among others.
He urged residents to remain calm, adding that the state government will continue to work productively with the management of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to regulate the discharge of water from the two dams; Ikere Gorge Dam located on Ogun River and Oyan Dam.
In his remarks, the Managing Director, Ogun Oshun River Basin Development Authority (O-ORBDA), Olufemi Odumosu while expressing delight in the synergy between the State and federal government to tackle the menace of flood, disclosed that the authority has put necessary measures in place to assist in mitigating the effect of the flood.
Odumosu while seeking the cooperation of residents urged all to build more drainage system and to cease dumping waste into them.
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