Residents of some communities in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital have pleaded with the state government to address the issue of flood in the area which has affected the community bridge.
According to The PUNCH, the heavy rainfall which hit Onikainkain in Moniya, Aroro Makinde, and Olodo areas, among others destroyed various houses, properties and farmlands.
A resident in Moniya, Akinyele Local Government Area of the state, Usman Busari, in an interview with journalists pleaded with the state government to come to their aid as the flood has submerged the bridge linking their communities, leaving residents stranded.
Motorcyclists, pedestrians, and motorists were seen waiting for the flood to recede, while others managed to wade over it.
“People were afraid to return to their homes. An okada rider also fell into the flood but he was lucky to have been rescued.
“The bridge they constructed for us in 2022 is too small to contain the flood that passes through our area,” Busari said.
Also, Chairman of the Ifesowapo Landlords Association in the area, Bello Rafiu stated that the water drainage system has to be extended because it is inadequate.
“What we need is a bigger bridge, ” he said.
Another resident, Morenikeji David said a fence collapsed in his neighbourhood at Moniya.
“The bridge was affected by the flood. A fence also collapsed. The gutter is not well-channelled. The road is also damaged. The government should assist us in channelling the water to a better location. The water spreads to houses in the community. They should do something for us,” David said.
Residents in the Aroro Makinde area were observed navigating through a turbulent water flow while providing mutual support.
“Makinde, we are staying in an area that bears your name, please come to our aid,” one of the residents said in the video, calling on Governor Seyi Makinde to come to their aid.
Attempts to reach the Chairman of Akinyele Local Government Area, Taoreed Adedigba, were futile because his phone line was busy.
However, it has been learned that he is currently suspended by the state House of Assembly.
The Chief Operating Officer of Crest FM, Adeolu Gboyega, reported that the Olodo area experienced flooding.
He mentioned that on Monday, police officers and officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps were present at the scene to manage traffic.
Gboyega who said their radio station was close to the flooded area said, “From all we noticed, the bridge has given way. We need the intervention of the government to fix it as fast as possible. The only passable road now is just a very small route. It will take one car to wait for another car to move in.”
When contacted, Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the administration will move swiftly to assistance those in the flooded areas, including making palliatives available.
He said, “The governor this morning deployed some teams comprising people from the Ministry of Works, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, State Emergency Management Agency, to the affected areas. They were at Olodo and Akinyele. At Olodo, that collapsed bridge is on a federal road but the government has taken it upon itself to fix it. We went around to look for alternative routes so it can be easy for people to commute. The government has also instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency to make palliatives available for affected people.”
