The Oyo State Government is taking steps towards preventing flood in the State, News About Nigeria reports.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
According to Mogbonjubola, some of the steps included the clearing of over 153.11 kilometres of blocked drainages and culverts across major roads in Ibadan. He said that this would enable a free flow of water during the rainy season.
The commissioner stated that this is a proactive step that is essential in preventing avoidable flooding incidents in the state.
He, therefore, warned against illegal dumping of refuse in unauthorised locations, stating that offenders will be made to face the wrath of the law.
The statement reads in part, “The government deems it necessary to clear blocked drains and culverts of debris such as nylon, bottles, sand, wood, and tyres to ensure free flow of water during rainfall, thereby reducing the risk of flooding.
“Blocking drains and culverts not only leads to flooding but also damages the asphalt layers of our roads. Anyone found dumping refuse indiscriminately will face the full wrath of the State Environmental Law.”
During an on-the-spot assessment tour involving officials from the Ministry, the State Project Performance Monitoring Agency, and the Office of the Auditor-General, Mogbonjubola praised the government’s foresight in prioritising the desilting of drainages.
Other drainages cleared include those along Total Garden to Beere, Iyaganku to Odo-Ona, Apata, Total Jericho to Alesinloye Roundabout, Sango-Eleyele to Ologuneru, Ijokodo-Apete-Awotan, Olunde to Olojuoro Road, and several others.
