- Govt moves to avert recurrence
Flooding is no longer a new thing to most Nigerians. In some parts of the country, this is an annual
event but the intensity varies from year to year. It is noteworthy that some regions witnessed heavier rainfall than others.
A flood is an overflow of water that submerges land that is usually occurred when there is heavy rainfall or an overflowing of water from a river or stream from its source.
Recently, Osogbo, the Osun State capital in the southwest zone of Nigeria witnessed havoc as many residents and those of other towns in the state suffered huge losses after a brief rainfall resulted in devastating floods that submerged houses and business places.
It was gathered that the rainfall swept two children away by a flash flood at the back of Moye Oil at Dada Estate, Osogbo.
Reports indicated that after the rain which lasted for about one hour and some minutes, the resultant flood was said to have gushed into a home in the area, submerged two siblings said to be playing in their compound, and reportedly swept them away.
Many people in the area wonder how the rain could take the lives of innocent children playing outside their premises.
One of the residents of the area, simply identified as Tiwo informed our correspondent that some concerned neighbours were able to quickly rescue one of the victims. The whereabouts of the second child had yet to be known as of the time of filing this report.
“The flood incident was a sudden one . The rainfall was not a heavy one but almost claimed the lives of two children who were playing in their compound. When it rushed into the compound, it carried the children away but immediately, some people in the neighbourhood rescued one of them. They were still searching for the other child on Saturday night when I was in the area,” Taiwo explained.
It was also learned that the rain, which started around 4:20 pm, caused a flood that also wreaked havoc on many other houses, shops, and business places in Osogbo.
In the Oke-Baale area, the flood covered the roads and affected shops of tailors and food vendors. It was the same situation at a popular sawmill at Oke-Baale as the rain washed away some planks.
In some places like Aregbe, and Fakunle, the rain reportedly covered the roads to the extent that passersby could not find inroad to their respective homes.
The flood disaster also occurred at Onireke junction, Akepe area, along Ibokun road, Osogbo. “This incident is saddening. Please, the government should come to assist and support the victims,” a resident said.
The brief but heavy rain forced hundreds of people to flee from their homes even as traders in Shasha Market, Oke Baale, Alekunwodo, and Obate, all in the state capital, counted losses, owing to the destruction it caused.
Although no life was lost in these areas, many houses, shops, and kiosks were submerged in water while several thousands of naira worth of heaps of cassava, bags of garri, and beans were washed away.
The husband of one of the traders affected by the flood, Taofeek Amodu, said he rushed to the area after receiving a telephone call from his wife to move some goods out of her shop before the place was flooded.
He explained that many market men and women who were caught unawares and scampered for safety suffered huge losses.
Also, one of the traders affected by the floods, Isiaka Ojolowo, said he and other traders quickly rushed out of their shops and that they were only able to take a few items out before the flood took over.
“It has been an annual ritual for this to happen to us but we didn’t expect it so early. A similar scenario happened during the late heavy rain around September and October last year when the Akintokun River in Igbo-Ifa overflowed its bank, causing huge havoc to traders in the area. I was one of those badly affected as some of my rams were flushed away. In fact, a big cow was lost after efforts to prevent the flood from taking it away failed. It was a sad experience,” he said.
When asked about efforts made to inform the government, Ojolowo said, “The damages caused here annually are always heartbreaking and I think it is high time the government did something to the area. We reported this to the past government but nothing was done even after several visits.”
Proferring a solution, he said, “There should be a bridge to channel the stream to the one in Igbo-Ifa but the past administration only put cemented rings there, which are too narrow for the river to navigate during the rainy season.”
“We, therefore, call on Governor Ademola Adeleke to help us construct a bridge to expand the channels where the river can easily flow. It’s just two months into the rainy season and we’re experiencing this, we don’t know what will happen towards the end of the year but we believe our amiable Governor Adeleke can come to our rescue,” the trader submitted.
Meanwhile, Governor Adeleke has directed relevant agencies of government to activate the state’s flood prevention plans with immediate effect.
According to a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed on Sunday, the governor issued the directives after receiving reports of the inspection of the Osogbo flash floods, which affected several areas of the state capital.
The Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, and other top government officials were said to have visited scenes of the flash flood Saturday evening.
“Governor Adeleke specifically instructed the Ministry of Environment, Works and other associated agencies to speed up work on all ongoing channelization projects and launch the implementation of the flood prevention agenda of the state government.
“Part of the programmes include clearing of blocked drainage and waterways, removal of structures blocking river lines, sensitization against refuse dumping in waterways and continuation of channelisation programmes of the administration,” the statement read.
“I direct the relevant agencies to set out to work on our flood prevention programmes. What we experienced was a flash flood but we must be proactive. All work plans already approved must be implemented without further delay.
“Osun is one of the states listed on the flood alert. The rainy season is here and we must be on the alert. We have launched many channelisation programmes across many towns and villages. This is still ongoing.
“I also urge our people to stop dumping refuse on drainage and waterways. Proper disposal of waste is provided for under the supervision of the Ministry of Environment. Our people must embrace such best practices to avoid avoidable loss of properties and lives”, Governor Adeleke was quoted as saying in the press statement.
While commiserating with victims of the flash flood at Osogbo and other parts of the state, the Governor instructed the Ministry of Environment to submit a report on the incidents with actionable recommendations.
Speaking with our correspondent in an interview Dr. Ayo Ologun said there is a need for continual dredging of the waterways in Osun State as a preventive measure against flooding.
“This has to become a tradition as well as ensuring that the drainages in and around the roads in the state are also cleared and properly channeled. The government also needs to ensure strict compliance with building rules and plans in terms of city planning to avoid people encroaching on the water line for structural buildings
Ologun, a Political analyst sympathised with the victims of the flood urging the government to immediately respond to their needs and find lasting measures to curb the menace before it caused more havoc in the state.
However,weather experts have called on the Osun State government to implement a flood master plan, fund flood defences, and ensure people adopt proper ways of relating with the environment to mitigate the disastrous consequences of flooding.
While the experts acknowledge that the steps may not prevent flooding, they maintained that it will reduce its effect on the environment to the barest minimum.
A retired Meteorologist John Onyeziri with the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and Engineer Debo Alani, a retired Director of Flood Control and Engineering Services, Osun State Ministry of Environment gave these recommendations during a current affairs programme monitored in Osogbo.
As part of efforts to control flood, they advised the government to stop the illegal dumping of refuse on drainage, streams, and rivers, stop and control illegal mining activities, improve channelisation designs, and installation of early warning flood systems in flood-prone areas across the state.
While noting that climate change and global warming were affecting the level of rainfall and the persistence of flooding, the duo also advised residents to stop the buying and development of land that are nearer to rivers and streams as this would affect the natural course of water.
They appealed to relevant stakeholders both government and residents to ensure they regularly clear their gutters within their domain during this period of rainy season.
The Hope
