The Governor Seyi Makinde-led Oyo State Government, has assured residents of the flooded areas affected during Sunday’s heavy rainfall in Ibadan of quick intervention, alternative routes and other palliative measures to ease their movement.
This was contained in a statement released by Sulaimon Olanrewaju, the Chief Press Secretary to the Oyo State Governor.
The statement said to get a proper assessment of the situation, an inspection team from the Ministries of Works, Environment, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) paid an on-the-spot assessment to the sites of the collapsed bridges and roads at Olodo Garage, Ido, and Akinyele in Ibadan.
Mrs. Modupe Adeleye, team leader and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, who spoke on behalf of the state government, said the State Government is aware of their predicament and will take swift steps to ease their challenges.
She said: “It is really pathetic actually, it is sad what we are seeing here this morning. We came here as a team comprising the Ministries of Environment, Public Works, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), to see things for ourselves.
“There are palliatives that the government will put in place for now to allay the fears of the people. So, the team went round to look for alternative routes because this place (Olodo Bridge) needs to be shut down for now to prevent loss of lives and properties, because it is a very risky zone.
“The suggestion now is that we should shut down and look for alternative routes for people to do their businesses and so far, the best route that we found is about five (5) kilometers. It spans from Wofun Junction through Kute to Olodo Bank. That will be the alternative route where the government will take a palliative measure for now,” she added.
Adeleye called on the residents to cooperate with the government, stating that the government will expedite action both on the ongoing construction works and the palliative on the alternative routes.
She also stated that the State Emergency Management Agency will soon begin counting the number of houses destroyed by the water.
Adeleye, who encouraged citizens of the state to avoid flooded areas and to cease building buildings on setbacks and river banks, emphasized that disregarding the warning endangers their lives and property.