Adeleke orders immediate measures to tackle flooding across Osun State
By Waliu Adetokun, Osogbo
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has directed relevant ministries, departments and agencies to take immediate steps to contain flooding and strengthen the state’s response to flood emergencies.
The directive, contained in a statement signed by the governor’s spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, on Thursday, followed recent flooding incidents across parts of the state.
Adeleke directed the Ministries of Environment, Works, Water Resources, Lands and Physical Planning, Health, Agriculture and Local Government Affairs, as well as the Osun State Waste Management Authority (OWMA) and Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), to immediately assess communities affected by flooding.
The affected local governments are also expected to submit verified reports indicating the locations of flood incidents, number of households affected, damage to infrastructure and the immediate needs of residents.
The Ministry of Works was directed to inspect damaged bridges, culverts and roads and take necessary emergency safety measures.
OSEMA is to coordinate emergency assistance and establish a verified register of households affected by the flooding.
The governor also directed the Ministry of Environment and OWMA to commence emergency clearance of major waterways, drainage channels and culvert entrances in areas considered vulnerable to flooding.
He further directed the Office of the Director-General and Special Envoy on Climate Change to coordinate the preparation of a comprehensive climate-risk and flood incident report for the state.
As part of the long-term measures, the government will commence a Flood Infrastructure Performance Audit covering major flood-control interventions carried out from 2020 to date.
The state will also begin the development of an Osun State Flood and Stormwater Master Plan based on hydrological and hydraulic assessments at the catchment level.
Another measure is the establishment of OSUN FLOOD WATCH, an integrated platform for early warning and community reporting of flood incidents.
The Ministry of Works was further directed to strengthen enforcement against developments that obstruct waterways, drainage corridors and floodways.
The governor also ordered the establishment of a Bridge and Culvert Hydraulic Safety Register to identify and classify critical crossings according to structural and hydraulic risks.
All ministries, departments and agencies covered by the directive are expected to submit their initial implementation reports within 14 days.
Adeleke also directed that a consolidated progress report be submitted monthly throughout the remainder of the rainy season.
“The objective of this directive is not merely to respond to the present flood events but to establish a permanent, data-driven and climate-resilient flood-management system for Osun State,” the governor was quoted as saying.
The measures, according to the statement, are intended to improve the state’s preparedness and emergency response while providing a long-term framework for managing flood risks across Osun.
