Relocate Now! Ogun Govt Warns People In Flood Prone Areas

...but calls for caution during flash flood Another flood advisory has again gone out to those in flood prone areas to relocate to safer environment immediately as the rainy season is gradually nearing its peak. 

The Acting Director, Ogun State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Mr. Soji Durojaye gave the advice at a day workshop themed: "Proactive Measures with Respect to the Alert on 2025 Imminent Flooding in Nigeria and Downscaling of Early Warning Messages" with National Disaster, Preparedness and Response Campaign agency (NPRC) and stakeholders, recently held at Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta. 

In his remark at the workshop, Mr. Soji Durojaye, appreciated the State Government and the authority of NEMA for the various intervention programmes, advising people in flood prone areas to relocate to safer environment.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs in the State, Hon. Olufunmilayo Efuwape reiterated Ogun State Government's commitment to step up efforts on flood alert campaign messages to residents to keep them informed on ways to curtail and avert flood disaster in the State.

The commissioner noted that Prince Dapo Abiodun led administration had always put in place various measures at curbing flood disaster in the State, adding that, several warning messages on indiscriminate dumping of refuse, regular clearing of drainages among others, had been aired on different media platforms which had yielded positive results in the state.

On his part, Commissioner for Environment,  Mr. Ola Oresanya represented by Director of Erosion and Flood Control Mr. Ismail Adenuga analysed causes of flooding to be natural and man-made, adding that the Ministry through Ogun State Waste Management Agency (OGWAMA) and other  related agencies  activities have made the State to record low flooding in the past six years.

Also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Mr. Lateef Benson assured of Government readiness  to domesticate campaign messages in indigenous language to make it clearer to the people at the community.

Responding, the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mrs. Zubeida Umar, represented by the Deputy Director, ICT, Justin Uwazuruwonye, said disaster management should be seen as a collective effort of all, imploring the community leaders and other stakeholders to join hands with both State Government and National agency to cascade the messages to the residents towards adhering strictly to the warnings.

Also responding, representatives of Community Development Association, Pa Elijah Odumbaku and Alhaji Ogunmuyiwa Ishiaq, promised to continue to educate their people more on the disaster messages and abide by the rules.

Others in attendance were the representatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Red Cross Society, Ogun State Fire and Safety Service and members of Community Development Association (CDA).

Meanwhile, in a related development, Ogun State Government has enjoined residents of the state not to panic over the ongoing  flash-flood in the state which is a natural prediction, urging the people to stay calm and obey all the advises to mitigate it.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya, the assurance became necessary to stop residents from unnecessary fear over the surging waves of rains, advising them to heed to warnings towards safeguarding lives and property.

According to Oresanya, ‘’residents are enjoined to stay indoors when it rains or stay in a safe place when on transit. Motorists and commuters are also advised to avoid the temptation of crossing flood paths until the torrent recedes which are usually within one or two hours. Households and community leaders are equally counseled to ensure that all constrictions along drainage channels and canals are removed"

Oresanya informed residents of the state to expect more torrential rain in the next three weeks which is first peak of the raining season, saying citizens should be proactive in  contacting the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA and the Flood Emergency Management response teams at the nearest Local Government to them in case of any emergency.

He added that the Community Development Associations, CDAs had also been mobilised as first responders for flood emergency management within their communities.