Flood: Osun Begins Massive Dredging Of Waterways, Rivers
Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has admonished the residents of the State to abstain from indiscriminate dumping of refuse particularly in the streams, rivers, drainages and waterways
Governor Oyetola who spoke during his unscheduled tour of some of the rivers, streams and waterways under dredging and channelisation in Osogbo, the State capital called for attitudinal change among the residents to waste disposal and management.
It will be recalled that Osun is one of the few States warned recently by the officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to prepare for an imminent flood between the month of August and October this year.
According to the NEMA Director of Operations in charge of Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States, Mr. Olusegun Afolayan, 28 States and 102 Local Government Areas in the country risked being flooded due to the impending heavy rainfall in the country.
Addressing journalists shortly after the inspection tour as a proactive response to NEMA directive, Governor Oyetola averred that his administration had come up with a sustainable way of managing its rivers, streams and waterways to forestall possible flood incidence.
He said government would not relent in its efforts to continue to open up its rivers and channelise its waterways and streams to ensure free flow of water across the nooks and crannies of the State.
When asked of the number of rivers and waterways to be dredged to forestall the predicted flood disaster, Oyetola said the State had identified 17 critical areas to be dredged and channelised.
He added that other flashpoints such as rivers, drainages and streams which were not part of the regular dredging routine had been incorporated to ensure that the State is free from any form of flood disaster.
The Governor commended the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the All Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Osun chapter, for their prompt and timely efforts to ensure that the State is safe and secure from flood disaster.
