OYSEMA warns against residing on flood prone areas

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By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA) on Wednesday reminded the people of the state that Oyo was one of the states in the country listed to witness flooding this season.
OYSEMA Secretary, Mr Akin Makinde stated this when he led officials of the agency to Gbekuba, in Ido Local Government Area of the state to meet residents of the areas affected by the August 26, 2011 flood in the state.
He disclosed that the house to house sensitisation campaign embarked upon by the team was to alert the residents to keep away from flood prone areas to avoid deaths and destruction of property during this period of heavy down pour and flooding.
The OYSEMA Secretary  asked the residents to ensure that the drainages were free from refuse dumps to prevent flood disaster especially now that the state is witnessing heavy down pour.
Speaking further, Mr Makinde declared that henceforth, OYSEMA officials would be moving round the homes to sensitise the people of the need to avoid flood disaster while the state government would continue in its efforts to invest in building waterways to avoid the sad incidence of August 26, 2011.
He emphasized that Oyo “state is listed among few states in the country that would witness flooding this season hence the need for thorough preparation to avert flood disaster again in the state.
The sensitisation team, met with religious leaders as well as traditional rulers to mobilise the residents against flooding.
Baale of the community, Chief Ganiyu Oladejo Alao while speaking, assured that the people of the community would make every effort to clear all the water ways while those living near flood prone areas were already making preparation to relocate without delay.
While praying that God help to avert flood disaster this year, he lamented that several people were killed in the area during the August 26, 2011 flood disaster,  and Caretaker Chairman, Ido Local Government, Mr Wahab Oladejo in his remark said the local government had already constituted Local Emergency Management Committee in preparation for any unforeseen disaster in the local government.
Speaking through the council Secretary, Dr. Ajibola Esuola, Mr Oladejo urged residents of Omi Ado and Gbekuba to ensure that there was no incidents of flooding by clearing all the waterways in their areas.
The sensitisation meeting was attended by the Baale of Gbekuba, Chief Ganiyu Oladejo Alao, leaders of the community, officials of Civil Defence, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Apata Police Station,  Otunba Olusola Agoyi and other stakeholders.

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