OGSG assures of lasting solution to erosion problems, warns residents to stop building on flood plains

Gov. Dapo Abiodun

Ogun State government has assured the residents of Ijebu Ode that it would work to resolve the erosion problems in the town, with the view of controlling the perennial flooding in Ijebu Ode and its environs.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Ola Oresanya and his Ministry of Works and Infrastructure counterpart, Akeem Adesina, gave the assurance on Monday, when they jointly led the state government delegation on on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation in Olorunsogo Community, Ijebu Ode.

Addressing the residents of the affected community, Oresanya who said the delegation was in the community to assess the situation, expressed the state government’s commitment to resolve the erosion problems in Ijebu Ode, which according to him had contributed to the flooding of some parts of the town.

He said investigations had, however, revealed that the recent flash-flood experienced in the area is a perennial occurrence and cannot be attributed to the ongoing road construction works in the community.

Oresanya blamed the residents for not adhering to the town planning laws and building houses on wetland and flood plains, the situation he noted had necessitated the erosion.

He, therefore, urged the residents to begin to live with the risk, and immediately commence construction of drainage channels in front of their houses while awaiting government holistic plan to solve the problem permanently.

In his response, the Chairman of the Community Development Association in the area, Abiodun Hassan thanked the state government for the quick response.

He also expressed the readiness of residents of the community to abide by all the actions by the state government to resolve the erosion menace in the community.