By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Fish farmers in Ogun State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun for emergency support after flash floods destroyed fish ponds, catfish stocks and production equipment valued at over ₦700 million.
The Ijebuland Fish Farmers’ Association said more than 150 farmers in Ijebu-Ife and Ijebu-Igbo were affected by flooding triggered by two days of heavy rainfall on July 13 and 14.
Speaking at a press briefing in Ijebu-Ode on Thursday, the association’s Secretary, Oluyemi Oludayo, blamed the disaster on blocked waterways, poor drainage, neglected rivers and inadequate drainage along the Sagamu–Ore–Benin Expressway reconstruction.
He said the flooding wiped out fish, ponds, solar pumping machines, solar panels, gas cylinders and other production assets, with losses exceeding ₦300 million in Ijebu-Igbo and ₦400 million in the Mojalake Fish Farm Cluster.
The farmers urged the Ogun State Government to rehabilitate drainage systems, remove structures blocking waterways and dredge the Ogbere Stream, while calling on the Federal Ministry of Works to provide adequate drainage channels along the expressway and dredge the Ade River.
The association also demanded compensation, emergency relief, single-digit agricultural loans, affordable solar-powered pumping equipment and the establishment of an agricultural marketing board to support fish farmers and prevent future losses.