The Ogun State Government has urged residents domiciled in areas prone to flooding across the state to relocate immediately, News About Nigeria reports.
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, made this call on Wednesday in response to the flooding situation in the areas.
He noted that this is a repetition of the call that was made a few months ago, adding that it is for safety reasons and an avoidal of the loss of lives and properties to the flood.
Some of the communities affected by the recent release of water from Oyan Dam include Isheri, Riverview Estate, Oshorun Estate, OPIC Estate, Arepo, Mawere, Akute, Alagbole, Orimerunmu, and Magboro, among others.
The government urged residents in these areas to heed its earlier flood alert advisory to either relocate or elevate their homes during this time of year.
He added that the relocation call was necessitated by their lowland nature and the higher level of tidal fluctuation from river flooding, forcing the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to release excess water from the Oyan Dam.
He said, “The release of excess water from the Oyan Dam is unavoidable at this time to avert damage that might lead to unpalatable consequences.
“The residents of these areas should, however, be aware that the floodwater is expected to start receding significantly from Friday, 25 October, through waterways, watercourses, and canals dredged and provided for that purpose earlier by the administration led by Governor Dapo Abiodun.
“These interventions aim to ameliorate the problem of flooding, and the state government is working assiduously with its Lagos counterpart and the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to the perennial flooding problems in these areas.”
