Oyo state government has restate its effort to prevent flood disaster in the state.
The state commissioner for Environment and Water Resources Isaac Ishola gave the assurance during the tour of the on going dredging of 64 rivers and streams by a monitoring team in Ibadan.
Other members of the monitoring team includes Director General of Ibadan Urban Management Flood Projects IUFMP) Mr Dayo Ayorinde, Permanent ,Secretary, Ministry of Environment , Mr Oguntola Engineers ,Director and other key management staff of IUFMP and Ministry of environment.
Ishola disclosed that work is already going in about 40 streams out of 64 streams and rivers in Ibadan and promise that the job will be completed in few weeks
The commissioner maintained that the government is concerned about the safety of lives and properties of all and sundry in the state” and that is why the governor is not only putting in place security measure s to checkmate criminal activities , he is also working hard to enhance hygienic and conducive environment for all and sundry in the state.
The project coordinator of Ibadan Urban Flood Management Projects IUFMP, Mr Dayo Ayorinde explains that prior the approval of the ongoing sites the agency had worked on 14 priority sites where permanent features including Drainage, Bridges,and others were constructed by the agency.
Ayorinde said further that the IUFMP is taking steps towards total implementation of ibadan urban and drainage master plan as soon as possible.
Some of the sites visited by the monitoring team includes , a tributaries of river ona at Goodness estate, Odogbo barracks , Orelope community, Oluyole extension, Ajofoyinbo community Soka Area and Olodo in Ibadan.
Community leaders including Mrs Mercy Faoye, Sanmi Etiolojo, Kola Oluponna commended the Ajimobi led administration for the steps in dredging the streams for free flow of water and prevention of flood disaster.
Mrs Faoye, a resident at Goodness estate said ” prior to government’s intervention, we used to have problem anytime there is heavy rain, we cannot sleep in our house because everywhere in the area will be submerged by flood but this dredging has relieve us of the perennial flooding problem we thank Governor Ajimobi .
Also Aremu Olaosebikan a community leader at Ajofoyinbo soka area ibadan in his own remark said ” the flood washed away our bridge and anytime there is heavy rain people are cut off from the other side, this development from government is something that we appreciate and we will not mind if the government can assist us in fixing the bridge and repair our road for accessibility
