Alert! Osogbo, Ilesa, Ife, Ikirun, Ikire May Witness Flood

• FG Warns Osun, Says State Stands High Risk Of Flooding

• We’ve Taken Proactive Steps – Govt

There are possibilities that some major towns and cities in Osun State will experience flooding as a result of torrential rainfall that might likely begin any moment from now, findings by OSUN DEFENDER have revealed.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that the topography and availability of streams and rivers in the towns and cities makes them susceptible to flooding.

A report by the Federal Government indicated that Osun is among other states that stand at risk of flooding starting from April until November this year. 

The Minister of Water Resources, Prof. Joseph Utsev, gave the indication on Tuesday, in Abuja, during a discussion on general highlights of the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook, which was prepared by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency.

Utsev noted that there are 148 local government areas in 31 states of the federation that were at high risk of flooding.

He disclosed that Osun, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe are considered high flood-risk areas. 

According to him, the floods are expected to occur between April and November 2024.

Additionally, the minister stated that a portion of the 249 Local Government Areas in 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are categorized as moderate flood risk areas.

Among the towns and cities that might witness flooding in Osun, according to analysis by the medium are Osogbo, the state capital, Ilesa, Ife, Ikire, Ikirun and Ede. 

Several areas in Osogbo have suffered severely from incessant flood occurrences. 

Research conducted by Adegboyega et al in 2018 (An Integrated Approach to Modelling of Flood Hazards in the Rapidly Growing City of Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria) revealed that about 48% of the landmass of Osogbo and Olorunda local government areas has high flood vulnerability.

Localities such as Gbonmi, Oke-Baale, Obalende, Obate, Oke-Oniti, Alekuwodo, Baruwa/Wole-Ola area, Awosuru, Oniroodunu, Omigade, Rasco, among others have always recorded flood-related menace.

Among other factors responsible for flooding in the state capital are the proximity of streams and rivers, improper planning and disregard for environmental regulations, most especially indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages and streams. 

Ile-Ife is another city that is susceptible to flooding, going by recent occurrences.

Areas like Road 7 within the campus of the Obafemi University (OAU), Parakin, Mayfair, Damico, Asherifa, Ife-Ibadan highway and Ede road are always been vulnerable to flooding. 

Findings by OSUN DEFENDER revealed that the OAU dam which usually overflow, blockage of drainages, lack of proper channelization of erosion, among other factors are responsible for flood related occurrences in the ancient city. 

Residents of Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun local government area of the state will have to double their efforts in preventing flood disaster this year. 

Ikirun is among other towns that have been experiencing recurrent flooding. Areas like Oja-Oba, Agun, Isale-Ikirun, among others are always prone to flooding. 

Explaining why some areas in Ikirun are susceptible to flooding, Researchers Martin Gasu and Ayokunle Odusola, in their research (Assessment of Land Use Vulnerability to Flood Disaster Management; and Control in Ikirun, Osun State, Nigeria) in 2021 said that 59.2% of the buildings in Ikirun were less than the standard 15m from natural drainage channels.

The researchers also identified anthropogenic activities such as unapproved development on flood plains, residential development, and indiscriminate waste disposal as factors responsible for flooding. 

To avoid flooding, the researchers recommended environmental education, proper waste disposal, channelisation, and stronger development of control measures.

OSUN DEFENDER noted that Ilesa is another city that might likely experience the predicted high flooding. 

The ancient city had for years been recording flood related menace. 

Investigations showed that Oke-Osun Imo, Omi Eran Atijo, Odoro, Powerline Biladu Area, Irawo Junction, Oba Adenle Hospital Junction and Funtua areas of Ilesa are most susceptible to flooding. 

In 2023, Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole local government of Osun state, witnessed a devastating flooding in July 2023. 

The popular Naira and Kobo junction along the Ife-Ibadan expressway, Oja-Ale, Atoto, Fulani, Mateba, UNIOSUN Road and Campus area of the town were sacked by flood. 

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that before the 2023 flood incident, the aforementioned areas had been grappling with flood related menace. 

Following the reports of high flood risk in Osun, Ikire is considered a flash spot for possible flooding. 

Though successive administrations have been taken steps to address flooding, but the menace has refused to be tamed. 

However, OSUN DEFENDER noted that only the administration of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was able to control flooding successfully. 

But Aregbesola’s interventions, strategies and planning that reduced flooding to the barest minimum in the state did not receive much attention from successive administrations.  

We’ve Taken Proactive Steps On Flood Control – Govt

Reacting to the alert by the Federal Government, the Osun State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, said the state government has taken proactive measures to tackle flooding. 

Adejorin noted that dredging and expansion of major rivers in the state has started, assuring the residents that there is no cause for alarm.

He, however, urged the residents who are in the habit of dumping refuse in the river and drainages to desist, adding that anyone caught will face the law. 

The Commissioner said: “Our major rivers are being expanded. We have started the dredging and it starts from the Osun River and we are going to be in Ife, Iwo, Ilesa and other towns. 

“This time around, it is not just dredging. We are expanding the water flow in order to give the water more space to navigate. Apart from the existing waterways, we are also creating new ones to overcome the problem of flooding. 

“The government is not paying lip service regarding this. We are taking proactive measures and what we are doing now is not a yearly exercise but something that will be done continuously.

“I want to appeal to our people, especially those that have formed the habit of indiscriminately dumping refuse in the river. They should stop and whoever failed to listen and is caught would face the law.”