Ogun to Demolish Structures Blocking Waterways

The Ogun State Government on Sunday vowed to demolish structures obstructing waterways in order to prevent recurrence of flooding in the state. It also promised to continue dredging the rivers in the state to give way for free flow of water. The state Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu -Balogun, stated this during the inspection of areas and places affected by the flood which also ravaged Abeokuta, the state capital, last Saturday. Inspecting the affected areas, Abudu-Balogun, in company with the state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Tunji Odunlami, attributed human activities such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse on water ways as one of the factors responsible for the flooding. Areas visited by the state government team included Ijeja, Amolaso, Isale-Igbein, Ori-Omi, Sokori, among others. "As a government, we are going to take a decisive step to ensure that residents comply with environmental laws. We are happy that no life was lost. We will ensure that corrections are made to forestall annual recurrence of this natural disaster. "We have seen the extent of the damage done by the flooding. We will continue to dredge canals in the state to allow for free passage of water. "The effect of human activities, that is building on water ways and indiscriminate dumping of refuse inside stream and rivers are factors responsible for what we are seeing here. We can all see the devastating effect that these activities have caused," he said. Odunlami also expressed the regrets of the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, administration on the unfortunate incident, saying despite sensitisation, many residents still encroached on the terrain of water flow. He explained that state government might not have other choice than to demolish houses obstructing water ways in the state, while advising people living along river channels to vacate their houses to safe places. Speaking also, the Baale of Amolaso, Chief Anthony Bello, appealed to the state government to channelise the stream from Gbangba through Ijeun Titun to Isabo down to Amolaso.