The Ogun State government has alerted residents living in flood-prone areas to consider relocating to safer ground or creating higher elevations within their residences as the rainy season begins.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, disclosed this during a press conference on the 2024 flood alert, held in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state capital, on Tuesday.
The Federal Government had written about 31 states, including Ogun State, about the impending flooding in between April and November this year.
The commissioner said 16 out of the 20 local governments in the state are expected to have the highest rainfall.
He said, “ Of the 20 local government areas of the state, 16 are expected to have highest rainfall with over 1700mm while those with lowest rainfall are Imeko Afon (1541mm) Odeda (1658mm). Abeokuta North (1675mm) and Abeokuta -South(1699mm).
“Due to this prediction, residents living on wetland areas of the state are advised to relocate to a safer ground or create higher elevation within their residence before the rain commences fully”
Oresanya added that for agricultural purposes, the length of the growing season for the coastal areas of the season ranges between 250 to 292 days while that of inland areas is between 200 to 250 days.
He added, “Our farmers are therefore encouraged to start planting from now (April) while those involved in poultry businesses are advised against stocking density during this stress period which has started two months back till next month due to the predicted above normal temperature.
“Fish farmers are equally and strongly enjoined to harvest before the peak of the raining season which is in July”.
Oresanya, however urged the residents to remain calm as the state government is putting measures in place to cushion the effects of the expected heavy rainfall and prevent destruction of life and property through extensive desilting of various drainage channels, rivers and streams channels.
The commissioner said that the government was complementing its effort in addressing the menace of flooding with the construction of 2,975.6m length of drainage channel and mini bridges/culverts, desilt and clear 56,150m length of river/stream courses and desilt 40,000m length of drainage channel across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He said that the state government will continue its productive synergy with the management of Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority on the management of the release of water from the two dams; Ikere Gorge Dam and Oyan Dam on the Ogun River to reduce the impact of flooding in wetland areas of the state. (Punch)
