Ogun asks residents of flood-prone communities to relocate

The Ogun state government has asked residents of flood-prone communities to relocate to higher grounds.

In a statement on Wednesday, Ola Oresanya, the state commissioner for environment, said the relocation was necessitated by the release of excess water by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority (ORBDA) from the Oyan dam. 

Oresanya noted that the release of excess water from the dam is critical to avert flooding and loss of lives and properties.

He added that the flood is expected to start receding “significantly” on October 25.

The commissioner assured residents of the government’s commitment to finding a lasting solution to the perennial flooding in some parts of the state.

Some areas of the state were said to have been flooded following the release of water from the Oyan dam.

The affected areas include Isheri, Riverview Estate, Oshorun Estate, OPIC Estate, Arepo, Mawere, Akute, Alagbole, Orimerunmu, and Magboro.

On October 18, the Lagos government asked residents along the Ogun riverbanks to relocate to safer areas.

Tokunbo Wahab, the commissioner for environment and water resources, said the release of water would help preserve the integrity of the dam and its socio-economic impacts on the state and the country at large.