October 21, (THEWILL) — Ogun state government has sounded a note of warning to residents at river banks and swampy areas to beware and take precautionary measures against overflow of the Ogun River in two weeks.
The Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, stated this in Abeokuta from the state’s latest flood alert, urging people living at the riverine areas to watch out for Ogun River’s surge between October 20 to November 3.
He mentioned the area that might be affected to include Akute, Alagbole, Isheri, Magboro, Makogi, Orimerunmu, Iro, Kajola and part of Abeokuta, specifically Lafenwa, Enugada, Adedotun, Iberekodo, Akin-Olugbade, and Ago-Odo.
Oresanya divulged that the spill over from Ogun River would occur due to release of water from Oyan Dam, stressing that from up-north would come a heavy rain fall that would increase the water volume reaching the dam.
He noted that the increased water flow into the dam would force the release of water from the dam, urging residents at the areas to use precautionary measures to avoid massive loss whenever the flood arise due to the river’s surge.
The commissioner called on residents of the areas to move away from riverbank, while those in the wetlands should move to higher grounds as the overflow becomes inevitable.
He opined that the Dapo Abiodun-led administration had continuously dredged and opened up more tributaries for Ogun River to ease the pressure of the overflow on residents in collaboration with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority – owners of Oyan Dam – who have continually ensured a controlled release of water from the dam throughout the year.
He, therefore, admonished residents of the areas not to panic as the tide will go down in about 10 days and urged fish farmers in the area to harvest their fish in order to avoid inevitable losses.
Seun Shotunde, THEWILL
