Ogun warns residents against drinking water from well, borehole in flooded areas

The Ogun government has asked residents in areas affected by flooding to be careful about their sources of drinking water.

The areas affected include border towns of Isheri, Warewa, Magboro, and Arepo.

Nigeria is experiencing its worst flooding in a decade with Benue, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Kano, Edo, and Ogun as the worst-hit.

In a statement on Friday, Ola Oresanya, the state’s commissioner for environment, said avoiding water from well and borehole sources in flooded areas would help residents prevent cholera and other waterborne diseases.

While inspecting the flooded areas, the commissioner said the appeal became necessary as flooding has contaminated the water sources.

Some of the contaminants were listed as fuel, pesticides, metals as well as pathogens from sewage, cemeteries, septic tanks and dead animals.

He said the state will embark on another round of dredging and clearing of drainage channels and waterways of silts in the affected areas.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had earlier warned that the excess water released from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon will increase flooding, in addition to anticipated heavy rainfalls.

Oresanya, however, blamed the flooding on uncontrolled development and carefree attitude of some residents.

“Some residents are so inconsiderate that they built on waterways on the guise of having approvals. Even if they have the approvals, it would have been given in error through bad advice to the approving authorities,” he said.

“The present government is, however, determined to correct these anomalies as the identified buildings and structures would be removed in the larger interest of other residents.”

He asked the residents to heed the government’s environmental advisory and ensure their surroundings are safe and healthy at all times.