The Ibadan Urban Flood Project Management (IUFMP), has blamed the recent flooding in the capital city of Oyo state on indiscriminate refuse disposal which blocked the drainage system.
IUFMP, emphasized that the dumping of refuses in rivers and streams is the major cause of flood, urging the residents to desist from such act.
The project Coordinator, Engr. Olasunkanmi Sokeye stated this after supervising rivers and streams dredged by the agency through the world bank intervention projects on flood disaster on Wednesday in Ibadan.
Sokeye said if residents of Ibadan stop dumping solid wastes and creating obstruction on flood planes, eighty or ninety percent of the flood crisis will stop.
He maintained that through IUFMP, no fewer than 45 rivers and streams with minimum length of 3kilometers and maximum of about 1,500 kilometers have been dredged to pave way for free flow of water and prevent flood disaster in the state.
He further noted that since the fund available was not enough for the execution of all their plans, the state Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde intervened by releasing more funds for dredging and channelization of water planes.
Earlier in his remarks, Engr. Rufus Iyiola, the Hydraulic Consultant for IUFMP, said dredging of rivers and streams in Ibadan has been an annual projects of the agency to avoid flood in Ibadan. He noted that the IUFMP also needed to be proactive against the forecast of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET which said about 26 states including Oyo will experience flash flood in 2021.
Some of the dredged sites visited included Lasokun stream, Alafara stream at Ologuneru, Ikolaba stream at Ikolaba, Omolayo stream at Akobo, Bolajoko stream at Akobo, Odeku stream at New Garage, Aba Alamu/ Aladie stream at Sharp corner, Gbekuba stream at Nihort area among others.
The development generated reactions from residents of Ibadan, among them is the renowned publisher, Agbo Areo, who commended Governor Makinde and the IUFMP for their intervention. He urged them not to relent in their efforts to prevent flood disaster in the state.
Paul Ajayi, a motorcyclist who was plying on the road in the course of the supervision around Kuola Apata road told journalists that prior to government’s intervention, they used to have issues whenever there is heavy down pour, adding that since the commencement of the dredging, everything has stopped and they’ve been moving freely.
Also commenting, Mrs. Aderinto Olanike, a resident in one of the areas said anytime it rains they do leave their homes as water would submerge the bridge and they wouldn’t be able to cross to the other side of the road.
“We do record casualties in the past whenever it rains, but now we are happy that the unpleasant experience has become a history because of this development and we thank the government for this intervention”, she said.
