By Egbodo Queen
The Chairman Ogun State House of Assembly on Public Accounts and Anti- Corruption, Damilare Bello, has urged the State Environmental Protection Agency’s management to launch aggressive campaigns aimed at preventing flooding as this year rain season approaches.
Bello stated that in order to improve the free flow of water, the agency must start with the evacuation and drainage clearance.
The legislature gave the advice in a statement on Wednesday while entertaining the agency’s management, headed by MrSam Oyeleye, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment.
Speaking during the visit, Bello said, “Your agency needs to start vigorous enlightenment campaigns to avoid the incidence of flooding in all parts of the state,” the legislator stated. It is important that our people receive the necessary education about avoiding behaviors that may contribute to flooding.
Helping to clear any water pathways and evacuate clogged drainages would also be beneficial in order to allow water to flow freely whenever it rains. To save lives, we need to treat the government’s flood alerts very seriously to save lives and properties.”
Responding, Oyeleye disclosed that the Ministry of Environment was already synergising with the Ministry of Physical Planning for all developers to obtain drainage permits in line with standard practice to prevent erosion and flooding.
He said that before embarking on the construction of any structure, it was important to have standard drainage system to allow free flow of water.
It will be recalled that the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya had, last week, during a press briefing, said that 16 out of the 20 Local Government Areas in the state are expected to experience high rainfall and might be susceptible to flooding challenge.
In order to avoid being caught off guard when the rainy season arrives, the state government had advised residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate elsewhere.