Flood: Osun Begins Dredging Of Rivers, Waterways

By Ayobami Agboola, Osogbo

Osun State Government on Tuesday commenced dredging of its Rivers and waterways in major towns in the state as part of its measures to forestall flooding in the state.

The Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Hon Sola Oladepo , said this in Osogbo while briefing journalists on the level of preparedness of the ministry for this year rainy season.

CityMirrorNews reports that the 2020 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO), released by the Nigeria Hydrological Survey Agency (NIHSA) indicated that no fewer than 102 local government areas in 28 states are at risk of flooding.

According to the agency the states includes Rivers, Cross River, Delta, Lagos, Ondo, Bayelsa, Sokoto, Kogi, Niger, Kaduna, Gombe, Adamawa, Benue, FCT, Nasarawa, Delta, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ebonyi, Edo, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Borno, Kano and Kebbi.

In its preparedness, on Tuesday, the dredging machines arrived Jatu river and dredging exercise has commenced.

Speaking during the Flag off of the dredging exercise on Jeru river, Ilesa garage , Osogbo, Hon Oladepo said the decision to dredge all the rivers and waterways across the state was in fulfilment of the Governror Gboyega Oyetola administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of the residents of the state

He added that the exercise was a confirmation of the fact that the present administration is concerned about the safety of the the people of the state.

According to Oladepo, the exercise became imperative so as for the people of the state to be able to sleep with their two eyes closed during the rainy season.

He urged the people of the state to cultivate the habit of proper waste disposal.

Echoing a similar views, the Special Adviser to the Governror on Environment and Sanitation, Hon Rufus Oyegbile said that the dredging and channelisation exercise would help to widen the canals for the free flow of water

Oyegbile who said the exercise will cover no fewer than Seventeen local governments urging residents of the state to desist from dumping refuses on the waterways.

Oyegbile reiterated Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s warning to residents against the bad habit of disposing wastes in rivers and drainages, saying whoever that is found wanting would be made to face its constituencies.

Oyegbile said the dredging exercise apart from Jetu river , will cover Lake264, Rasco river, Were Sheusheu, Fiwasaye and Iludun Rivers in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Governments.

Others areas according to him are ;Opa in Ife, Esinmirin, Iba in Iwo and Yemoja Mogimogi in Isokan among others.

He said the state ministry of environment in collaboration with the local government are working to ensure that that state is safe from flood epidemic.

“This is not the only place where dredging is taking place; the dredging is taking place in Ife and Iwo axis of the state and in other places in the state as well.

“My appeal to our people is to do away with indiscriminate dumping of refuse. We must all adhere strictly to proper disposal and management of refuse. This is the only way to keep our rivers and waterways safe.

Hon Idowu Abiodun, Chairman, Ifedayo Local Government who doubled as the ALGON Chairman in the state said they would continue to support the state Governror in his bid to ensure that there is no lost of life and prosperity when the rain begins.