Flooding: ODSG takes action, sympathises with victims

The Ondo State Government has sympathised with the Osemawe of Ondo and the people of Ondo Kingdom following the flash flood that occurred in some communities yesterday.

This is just as Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has ordered the evacuation of the affected areas and rapid response of the government to halt further damages.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Oyeniyi Oseni, in a signed statement, declared that the State Government had put all necessary machinery in place to prevent the possible flooding predicted by NIMET. Amphibious excavators were deployed to critical erosion-prone areas in the state for dredging.

Oyeniyi stated that the amphibious excavators have been working in Ondo Kingdom for the past two weeks, specifically in Laje and Oke-Odunwo. These areas were identified as the most critical erosion-prone locations. The excavators had also carried out dredging activities in Akure, Igbokoda, and Ore.

Oseni said that his findings revealed the urgent need to further dredge some canals along Captain Cook, up to the sawmill area, with work set to commence tomorrow.

He promised that the amphibious excavators would continue to work in the area to ensure the free flow of water through the canal.

The Commissioner noted that today’s flooding could also be attributed to development on waterways in an estate at Fagun and along Ife Road.

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He therefore stated that his ministry would collaborate with the relevant MDAs to address the unlawful development along the waterways.

He assured the Kabiyesi and the people of the town that the amphibious excavators would continue dredging the canal until the problem was resolved.