In its continued effort to create awareness and sensitize people on the need to prevent flood in Ibadan, the Ibadan Urban Flood Management IUFMP holds the second edition of Ibadan Flood Awareness and Stakeholders Thrust IFAST Conference .
The event which tagged ” Ibadan flood awareness and stakeholders’ engagement meeting on flood prevention ,mitigation and preparedness” held at Banquet Hall Premier Hotel Ibadan and was organized in conjunction with Oyo state Emergency Management agency OYSEMA.
Stakeholders at the event includes Market women and traders, Community Development Council CDC Chairmen in all Councils and LCDA’s in Ibadanland , representatives of National Emergency Management Agency, traditional rulers, Non governmental organisations among others.
The state commissioner for Environment and Water Resources , Chief Isaac Ishola in welcome address noted that despite the warning and effort to enhance sanitized environment some decedent’s in the society are thwarting the efforts of the government agencies.
He maintained that the government will not be deterred by their attitudes toward change of habits but continue to give necessary amenities and infrastructure needed to enhance hygienic environment and control flood.
The Administrative Secretary Oyo State Emergency Management Agency OYSEMA Mr Akin Makinde in his welcome address said the essence of the the conference is to further sensitize the public on the need to prevent flooding disaster in the society.
He noted that since 2011 flood emergency which claims lives and damage properties Oyo state government under the leadership of Senator Abiola Ajimobi has been taken proactive steps in preventing further disasters occasioned by floods in the state.
Makinde maintains that the government will not relent in its effort preparing for NIMET predictions about flood in Oyo state and urged the people to also play well their own role in ensuring that flood planes are cleared and other things that may cause flood are prevented
Also , the projects Coordinator, IUFMP Mr Dayo Ayorinde in his remark harps on the need for communities to set up flooding committee as well as support government agencies in mitigating against flood in the state .
Ayorinde hinted that IUFMP has been complementing government efforts in ensuring flood disasters is prevented in the state and promise to organize continuous sensitisation programme and awareness to prevent flood in the state .
The Director General of National Emergency Management Agency NEMA Agency (NEMA), Engineer Mustapha Maihaja commended OYSEMA and IUFMP for their consistency in sensitising the public on the need to prevent flooding in Ibadan and Oyo state at large.
Maihaja who was represented by Aikpokpo Ebahi from South west office in Lagos reinstated the support of the NEMA to OYSEMA and other related agency in reducing the effect and preventing flooding in the state.
Alhaji Waheed Gbadamosi, Director General Oyo state Bureau of Physical Planning who was also at the event said identified lack of conformity with town planning law and city master plan by residents is one of the major factor that led to flood in some areas in Ibadan.
While reaffirming the decision of the state government to implement ibadan city master plan, Gbadamosi maintained that the government will not approve any construction on water plane or anywhere that may obstruct free flow of water.
Babaloja of Oyo state Chief Adisa Oladejo and some other stakeholders in their contributions lauds the effort of Oyo state government in sensitizing the public on the mitigation against flood and promise to disseminate their message to their various communities.
They also call on the state government to recruit more environmental officers and be more firm in enforcing environmental laws particularly on waste disposal management.
Keynote speakers at the conference includes Dr Linde Olayinka Ally, Mr Akin, and Mr Hamzat Kolawole.
