The Ogun State Government has advised residents living in floodplain areas to move to safer locations before the onset of the rainy season.
According to the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), rainfall is expected to start in March and continue through December 2024. The season is projected to last for about 239 days, with an average precipitation of 1786.5mm, impacting sixteen of the state’s twenty local government areas.
During the 2024 Ogun State Flood Alert event, coordinated with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority and held at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre in Abeokuta, State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, revealed these details. He mentioned that local government areas like Imeko-Afon, Odeda, Abeokuta North, and Abeokuta South are projected to receive the least rainfall.
Oresanya also highlighted that those in hilly regions might face erosion due to rapid water flow. He urged residents to remain calm, assuring that the state government has initiated measures to alleviate the potential severe impacts of the heavy rains.
“It is either you relocate from the area or you elevate; may be you want to reconstruct your house or do some kind of elevation if you must stay in that area. Every year, we talk about relocation. It is not easy to relocate. If you must leave in those areas, make sure that your electronics, your chairs, and whatever can be damaged are being elevated.
“When we talk about relocation and elevation, it is going to be predominantly around this area. People living within the wetlands of the state are supposed to prepare for this increase in the height of the water because we are going to have a retention of this lockdown around this period.
“So, people who are located in the hill areas are going to have some kind of erosion because of the speed the water will take in running down around the Ilaro area and some areas in Ota. We are going to have what we call erosion that is going to accompany this kind of flooding for the year.
“The other areas that we will have the impact which is later on are people that are living within the wetland of the state and the wetland area are predominantly Southern parts of the state and this is almost flat land, low line land because this are the border towns between Lagos and Ogun State,” he said.
The commissioner also said, that the state government is set to complement its various efforts at addressing the menace of flooding with the construction of 2,975.6m of drainage channels, mini-bridges, and culverts, as well as the desilting and clearing of 56.150m of river across the state.
“The state government wishes to complement its efforts in addressing the menace of flooding by constructing 2,975.6m length of drainage channels and mini bridges/culverts, desilting and clearing 56.159m length of river/stream courses and desilting 40,000m length of drainage channels across the three senatorial districts of the state.
“Some of the areas include construction of drainage channels and culverts at Wesley Primary School, Ijebu-Ode; reconstruction of dilapidated culvert at Saje Dumpsite road; Apakila (Abeokuta); Igbosoro (Ogijo, Sagamu), Imasai, desilting of rivers/stream courses at Yemile (Ijebu-Ode); Sensen river (Sagamu), Onibuku (Ota); Odo-funfun (Oja-Odan), Opa Aro (Isheri), Sokori river and tributaries while desilting of drainages channel will take place at Abeokuta, Ifo, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu, Ilaro, Ota among others,” he said.
The commissioner highlighted that the rainy season lasts from 250 to 292 days in coastal areas and between 200 to 250 days inland, and he encouraged farmers to commence planting.
He advised fish farmers to complete their harvests before the rainy season peaks in July and cautioned poultry farmers about reducing stocking density during this period, which began two months ago.
Oresanya also urged residents to obtain a drainage permit before constructing their drainage systems. He explained that this would ensure the drainages are properly elevated for water passage and help residents avoid inadvertently building on flood plains and wetlands during the dry season.
In his statement, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA), Engr. Olufemi Odumosu, mentioned that OORBDA has taken a comprehensive approach to structural measures for flood control.
He also stressed the importance of collaboration between OORBDA and the Ogun State government in the realm of tourism, noting that such partnerships could enhance revenue generation.