Oyo state government has attributed its ability to achieve a Flood-free status in the outgoing year to the interventions being methodically implemented under the Ibadan Urban Flood Management (IUFMP).
The government said some of the interventions included several massive hydraulic structures designed and constructed to boost the flood resilience index of the city.
Mr Akinola Ojo, Commissioner for Finance, made these known, on Thursday while briefing newsmen in Ibadan, the state capital.
His words: “It was in realization of this that the Engr. Seyi Makinde administration right from inception bought wholly into the full implementation of the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, the state-owned flood risk mitigation project with funding and technical assistance from the World Bank.
“On a much larger scale, the channelization of major rivers and water channels in Ibadan under the IUFMP scheme is ongoing as evident in some portions of the Agodi, Orogun and Ogbere Rivers. Contractors have been mobilized for Ona and Kudeti Rivers too, alongside the trios mentioned above. When completed, these massive channels, which are in the mould of the popular Ogunpa Channel, would boost the flood-water runoff draining capacity of the city.
“It is instructive to state that the above-listed interventions and many others are in consonance with modern-day flood risk management techniques and are well in excess of the modest recommendations by the federal regulatory agencies on flooding and water resources.
“It is therefore safe to conclude that these interventions being methodically implemented under IUFMP have contributed extensively to the city’s relatively flood-free status in the outgoing year. In other words, the conscientious implementation of IUFMP has helped Oyo State to prove the weatherman’s predictions wrong, despite the devastating deluge that happened both far and near in other parts of the country.
“In preempting the antics of fifth columnists who are notorious for quoting statements like the submissions above out of context, let me add that nobody is saying that there were no incidents of floods at all in Oyo State during the last rainy season. As a matter of fact, we were aware of some inundation in certain areas of Moniya in Akinyele LGA; with top government functionaries visiting the communities to assess the impact.
“But the reality was that, aside the temporary disruption to human/vehicular movement before the water receded, there were no loss of lives and property. Also, the Oyo State Government is not, by this media debriefing, making mockery of other States or Cities that were hit by the 2022 flooding, Far from it! It is just to enable all stakeholders put the project outcomes in proper perspectives”.
Mr Ojo assured the people that the interventions are not done and that they would not rest on their oars while calling on journalists to amplify the project gains as well as the precautionary measures.
He said: “All the anthropological or man-made causes of flooding in our locality are still causes for concern. Improper waste disposal, poor land use pattern, building on waterways, etc. remain predisposing factors for urban flooding.
“Yes, we are in the dry season now; but let us remember that indulging in any of the above infractions this season will impact adversely on us as soon as the rains return in 2023.
“Our Governor, His Excellency Engr. Seyi Makinde, has continued to place a huge premium on environmental cleanliness and rectitude as a way of life. Let us all fully buy into His Excellency’s vision of a clean, smart, safe and resilient environment.
“It is a duty we owe to the Earth, which is the only natural habitat available to us. Let’s not fail God; let’s not fail ourselves.”
Similarly, the state government promised to complete all major bridge building projects in Ibadanland before the beginning of the next rainy season.
While calling on the people of the state to abide by all laws relating to proper refuse disposal adding that it is the duty of all stakeholders in the state to prevent flooding.
Others present at the briefing were Commissioner For Works, Prof. Daud Shangodoyin, Commissioner For Lands, Mr Olayiwola Olusegun Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary Ministry Of Environment, Modupe Adeleye.
