In order to prevent a repeat of the flood that occurred in 2022, the Ogun state government has called for the assistance of the Federal Government in its flood mitigation programme, especially in providing a concrete lining on all its secondary erosion trunks.
The state governor, Mr Dapo Abiodun, made the call when he received the Presidential Technical Committee on Flood, who came on a fact-finding mission to the state in Abeokuta.
Represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, the Ogun governor noted that providing a concrete lining will increase the hydrodynamics of the secondary trunks which are constantly dredged by the state government, thereby preventing flooding, especially in the urban areas.
“Since we came to power in 2019, we have put many measures in place to manage and mitigate it.
“These measures are the establishment of the Ogun State Waste Management Authority with over eighty per cent waste collection efficiency, which reduced significantly.
“Dumping of waste into drainage channels and waterways as well as stopping residents from building on flood plains across the state will help mitigate this problem.
“An environmental permit from the Ministry of Environment which is in conjunction with the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development must be obtained before commencement of any building project,” Abiodun said.
He also called on the FG to also look at other ways to assist the state governments as well as residents to manage and mitigate flooding, praising the Buhari-led government for its bottom-up approach to solving the flooding problems across the country.
Responding, the leader of the delegation, Dr Godstime James, said the committee was in the state to look at areas often affected by flood with a view to finding a lasting solution to them adding that their reports will be submitted to the Federal Government for appropriate action.
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