Flood: Oyetola sympathises with victims, seeks FG’s intervention

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of The State of Osun has appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state in combating flood disaster.

He made the appeal on Sunday when he braved the odds of the torrential rain to inspect the flooded areas in Osogbo, the state capital,  with a promise to find immediate solution to the disaster.

Some communities  in the state were ravaged by flood following  the heavy downpour that ran through Thursday to the whole of Friday, Saturday and parts of today.

The governor, after due consultation with experts, promised that the government would bring dredging machines to immediately clear the flooded sites  and create necessary expansion to allow for free flow of water.

He described the challenge of flooding as enormous, saying  the Federal Government’s support was needed  in finding a lasting solution to the disaster.

The governor further disclosed that the state government had earlier requested for support from the Federal Government through the office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, adding that the FG had promised to support the state in that regard.

While sympathising  with the affected residents, he also urged them to stay away temporarily from the flood-prone areas.

He warned the residents against bad practices of dumping refuse in the canals and river. He said the act has been found to be partly responsible for flooding since the blockage arising from the bad habit will prevent water from flowing freely to the appropriate destination.

The governor said the state environmental task force would be deployed immediately to start monitoring round the state to prevent residents from dumping their refuse in the canals and rivers.

“We are deploying dredging machines to the affected areas to cushion the effect and with that, we can’t have such occurence again.

“Though the issue of flood control is not about dredging alone, it entails the need for the people to imbibe the sanitary culture of disposing wastes properly.

“If one looks at the topography of this place, it appears slopy, and what that means is that it is easy for water to flow to our state from neighbouring states. That is why we have the river overflowing its bank.

“Our approach to flood control is to ensure that no part of the state is being ravaged by flood incidence and as a matter of fact we are on the verge of giving succour to the victims of the flooded areas.

“With this visit, we have seen that there is a need to reconstruct some of the bridges by raising and expanding them to avert similar incidence.

“I have consulted the relevant agencies as regards this incidence, and I have been assured of a permanent solution.

“And before now, I had contacted the relevant authorities in Abuja on the need to support the state on ecology.

“I also visited the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha and I am glad that they sent a team of experts to inspect the flood -prone areas. I believe they will do something within the next few weeks

“We have to do this, because there are many flooded areas and the state government cannot do it alone, but with the Federal Government’s support, we will be able to overcome it,” Oyetola said.