By Okanlawon Olatomide Salymon (SIWES student Crescent University Abeokuta)
In response to the recent flooding crisis in Nigeria, the Senate has called upon President Tinubu to implement the recommendations of the Presidential Committee for the Development of a Comprehensive Plan of Action against Flooding.
This includes the establishment of a National Flood Management Council, designed to coordinate flood management activities across the country. Senator Abiru (Lagos East) initiated this resolution, urging the government to provide relief materials to the flood victims and convene a stakeholders’ meeting to address the recurring flood situation nationwide.
The Senate extended its sympathies to the flood victims and commended the governments of Lagos and Ogun states for their efforts in assisting those affected.
Furthermore, the Senate directed the National Emergency Management Agency to dispatch humanitarian aid to the affected communities in both states. They also urged the federal government to organize a stakeholder meeting to address the ongoing flood issue and develop a sustainable solution to prevent future disasters.
In Senator Abiru’s motion, he highlighted the consistent flooding experienced by communities near the coastlines in Ikosi-Isheri and Agboyi-Ketu in Lagos State and other areas in Ogun State whenever the Oyan River Dams are opened.
The recent release of water from the dam, on October 24, 2023, caused significant damage to residents’ property and livelihoods.
The Oyan River Dam, commissioned in 1983, is operated by the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources. Many residents had to evacuate their homes, and various facilities, including schools and religious centers, were forced to shut down due to the flooding.
The situation was dire, with water levels reportedly reaching the neck region of an adult in the Maidan area of Ikosi-Isheri. Similar reports of flooding were received from Caterpillar, Harmony Estates, and certain parts of Channels TV road in Ikosi Isheri.
