By John Dike, Osogbo
Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, has sympathised with the victims of the flood that ravaged Iwo on Friday.
He extended the same gesture to all the residents of the ancient town.
The governor expressed deep concern over the scale of personal and material losses suffered by residents, assuring them of his government’s full support in the aftermath of the disaster.
He lamented in a statement on Monday, “I am devastated to learn about the monumental damage caused by flooding that occurred in Iwo.
“The scale of the losses suffered by our people is especially heavy, and I can only imagine the toll on families and livelihoods.”
The Governor emphasized that his administration had already initiated several flood prevention measures, including the dredging of Aiba waterways, and that additional resources have now been deployed to expand more water channels in Iwo and surrounding areas.
As part of immediate response efforts, Adeleke has directed the Commissioner for Environment to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the flood-affected areas and develop a comprehensive plan to provide relief and prevent future occurrences.
“The people of Iwo and indeed Osun State can be rest assured that we are doing everything possible to tackle flooding,” he said.
The Governor also promised that the state government would take stock of damages and provide appropriate support to victims to help them recover from the disaster.
He appealed to residents of Iwo and across Osun State to support government efforts by desisting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage channels and waterways, which contributes to flooding.
His words, “We stand with the people of Iwo in this difficult moment.
“Flooding is a challenge we must face together – with government intervention and community cooperation.”
The flood, following a torrential downpour had reportedly displaced some communities in Iwo town with residents calling for Osun State government assistance.
It was gathered that the rainfall, which led to flooding, affected houses while some residents reportedly lost their properties.
Some of the areas where the flooding occurred include Yafoye, Oke-Afo, and Agoro road in Iwo.
An indigene of the town, Dolapo Olayiwola, in a Facebook post, said the heavy rainfall which occurred today left many families stranded.
Olayiwola appealed to the Osun state government as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to assist those affected by the flooding.
He wrote on Facebook, “The massive flooding in Iwo in Osun State today has displaced many residents and left families stranded.
“As a concerned son of Iwoland, I appeal to the Osun State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and all relevant agencies to urgently intervene and provide relief for our people. Iwo deserves immediate attention and support in this difficult time.”
