11 LGs In Oyo At Risk Of Flooding From September

Eleven Local Government Areas of Oyo State are at risk of experiencing flash flooding from rainfalls between September and November this year.

As contained in the 2020 Annual flood outlook of the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the local councils at risk of flooding are Ona Ara, Lagelu, Oyo East, Kajola, Egbeda, Ogbomoso South, Iseyin, Ibarapa North, Ibadan South West, Ibadan North West and Ibadan South East.

The identified local government areas are said to be predisposed to flooding due to blockage of drainage systems, encroachment and building of structures on flood plains and waterways, poor waste management practices, deforestation, use of river channels as waste repositories, poor compliance to land use zoning/building codes.

The looming risk ahead was identified when the Oyo State government convened a stakeholders meeting involving caretaker Chairmen and Community development associations of the flood risk local government areas, at state Secretariat, Ibadan, on Wednesday.

It will be recalled that some parts of Ibadan had on June 30 experienced flash flooding.

Speaking at the event, Secretary to the Oyo state government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun, noted that the vulnerability of Ibadan and some other parts of the state is due to the towns’ topographic terrain, the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal and building of houses on flood plains.

In preparing for the imminent flooding, Adeosun said the state, through the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), was processing the channelisation of major rivers and watercourses like Ona, Ogbere, Orogun, Kudeti, Agodi.