The Oyo state House of Assembly has called on the executive arm and relevant stakeholders to check into the issue of clearing and dredging of river waterways in Oyo state to protect lives and properties through the prevention of flood.
The honourable house made this call in a motion moved by Honourable representing Ido state constituency, Hon. Mobaje Rasaq co – presented by deputy speaker Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi of Ona Ara and Hon. Bimbo Oladeji representing Ogbomosho North in a motion which calls for urgent attention in “dredging and clearing of the waterways of Rivers Omi Adio, odo Ose, Jamoje, in Ido local government and other rivers in Oyo state”.
The motion noted that each time there is heavy downpour of rainfall, the river Omi Adio, Jamoje, Ose, Ariyo, Igbo Agboyin/Iwagba and other rivers in the state usually overflows their banks leading to flooding and its attendant negative consequences.
It further observes that flooding renders adjoining roads un – passable for hours and sometimes days.
Hon. Abdulrasaq Mabaje while explaining the motion bill reported the case of a pregnant woman who were in labour and couldn’t be transported to health facilities due to couldn’t be transferred for labour due to un – passable road and flooded environment and the ugly incident of the August 26, 2011 that claimed the lives of over 100 citizens in Ibadan.
Min. Of information of culture sensitize citizens of danger of waterways.
More than 600 major roads in Oyo is Prone to Flooding.
Hon. Wunmi Oladeji while reacting to the motion calls for proper sensitization and education for people to stop the attitude of dropping refuse on waterways and water channel.
Deputy Speaker, Hon. Abiodun Fadeyi while corroborating the comment of hon. Wunmi oladeji added that to avoid flooding, yhr min. Of environment and Ibadan urban flood management provide solution to save lives.
Hon. Onaolapo Sanjo of Ogbomosho South state constituency further mentioned that his constituency is also affected. And call for the direction of plans from the town planning so people won’t build on waterways to prevent future risks of lives.
Deputy Majority leader of the house, Hon. Babalola Olasunkanmi representing Egbeda state consitutency, cried that people has turned waterways to heavy dumping sites, adding that flooding in olodo, gbaremu, oki, amosun and isebo has become an annual festival of live loosing due to the disaster.
The speaker of the house, RT Hon. Adebo Edward Ogundoyin while given a grand reaction and adoption on the resolution mentioned that all local government and local council development area make use of the excavators provided by the immediate past government.
He added that relevant stakeholders will see into the case and a committee will be setup to review it.
The Assembly has on Monday visited The Oyo state police Headquarter, Eleyele Ibadan, and vowed to visit the Customs Office, Civil defence, immigration and G.O.C after the plenary and on Wednesday respectively to ensure a crime – free Oyo state through curbing insecurity.
