The Lagos State government has joined its counterpart in Ogun in urging residents who are currently affected by the recent release of water from the Oyan Dam to relocate or elevate.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab gave this advice on Wednesday following an extensive tour of areas affected by the staggered water release.
Wahab insisted that property owners and residents of low-lying areas must relocate to higher ground following the systematic release of water from the Oyan Dam.
He allayed the residents’ fears regarding the release of water from the Oyan Dam, assuring that necessary measures are in place to effectively manage the floods.
Addressing the media, Wahab explained that the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources had engaged in massive advocacy concerning the release of water in the past few weeks, urging residents not to compromise their safety and property.
Wahab added that the government is concerned about the sanitary situation in the neighbourhoods as residents practise open defecation and other unsanitary activities into the open water, saying this is unwholesome and will result in serious negative impacts thereafter.
He reiterated that the Lagos State Government fully recognizes the challenges faced by residents of the affected communities and empathises with them because they are taxpayers.
“I would like to appeal to the property owners and residents around Ajegunle, Itowolo, and other low-lying areas to relocate to higher ground, this is emotional but life matters a lot,” he said.
“It has been observed that most buildings in Itowolo and environs are constructed along the plains of the Ogun River, water will never leave for you, it will always find its way.”
The commissioner added that the state government has awarded some drainage construction projects to mitigate the effects of the flooding.
He stated that the team was visiting Isheri North GRA for the second time in 12 months, promising that the government will implement the residents’ suggestion to dredge a particular canal effectively.
Wahab recalled that in an effort to reduce the flood and ensure the free flow of water within the Ogun River system, the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) and Ogun State Government recently commenced the dredging of the Ogun River downstream from the Ikorodu to Isheri axis (Ajelogo, Owode-Elede, Ajegunle, and the deck-on-pile of Itowolo Bridge).
He noted that over 52 tributaries discharge into the Lagos Lagoon, which is a major contributor to the prevalence of flooding, and appreciated the Federal Government for awarding the Ogun River downstream project, saying the two states of Lagos and Ogun would continue to collaborate on ways to resolve the issue permanently.
Wahab added that as part of measures to prevent flooding in the axis and its environs, there is ongoing extensive construction of a 3.7km outfall channel and secondary collectors on Gberigbe Road, which cuts across Abule Eko/Ijede/Igbopa – London Road in Ikorodu, jointly by the State and Federal Governments.
During the tour, the team also visited Primate Oshibajo Road, Agbede Transformer/Omolaiye community in Ikorodu to find a lasting solution to the erosion experienced in the area, informing that the drainage contract that will solve the problem has already been awarded.
“The Agbede case is very unfortunate because, before now, the government had constructed massive drainage infrastructure in a school as an intervention so that stormwater can discharge to the nearby natural stream effectively, but it has proved not to be enough,” Wahab said.
“Graciously, Mr. Governor has approved the second leg of the drainage system construction which will commence immediately as the contractor is expected to move to the site in a few weeks.”
He assured the residents that the contractor would move to the site very soon to construct another major secondary collector to complement the existing one so that stormwater can discharge appropriately into the stream without delay.
Wahab added that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure would also be invited to construct proper road infrastructure in that neighbourhood, saying that with these measures, flooding will be a thing of the past in the community and its environs.
The Special Adviser on Environment, Engineer Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu who accompanied the commissioner, urged Lagosians not to entertain fears because the State Government would continue to map out strategies to contain flooding that may be experienced at any point in time.
Rotimi-Akodu advised residents to always be safety-conscious, appealing to residents of low-lying areas to relocate to higher ground.
Also on the team was the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Engr. Mahamood Adegbite, and some directors from the Ministry. Other places visited include Majidun, Itowolo, Ketu, Gberigbe Road, Abule Eko/Ijede/Igbopa – London Road, Primate Oshibajo Road, Agbede Transformer Ikorodu; Owode-Elede, Owode-Onirin, Ajegunle and Isheri-North GRA.
The Ogun State Government, meanwhile, had earlier advised residents who are currently affected by the recent release of water from the Oyan Dam.
The Ogun State Government gave this advice on Wednesday night in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Environment, Deji Oresanya.”Ogun State Government has advised residents of flooded areas of Isheri, Riverview Estate, Oshorun Estate, OPIC Estate, Arepo, Mawere, Akute, Alagbole, Orimerunmu and Magboro who are currently affected by the recent release of water from the Oyan Dam to abide by its earlier flood alert advisory to either relocate or elevate from the areas at this period of the year,” Oresanya said.
The commissioner stated this in response to the flooding situation in the areas which was necessitated by their lowland nature and higher level of tidal fluctuation from river flooding at this time which forced the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (ORBDA) to release excessive water from the Oyan Dam.
While noting that the release of excess water from the dam is unavoidable to avert its damage which might lead to unpalatable consequences, Oresanya assured residents of the areas that the flood water would start receding significantly.
He said that would start from Friday, October 25, 2024 through waterways, water courses and canal dredged provided for that purpose earlier by the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration at ameliorating the problem.
Oresanya added that the Ogun State Government is working assiduously with its Lagos counterpart and the Federal Government to finding lasting solutions to the perennial flooding problems in the areas.
