Heavy Downpour: NEMA, OSEMA Warn Residents From Dumping Waste On Waterways
By ABIODUN JIMOH
Not less than 28 states are at risk of experiencing heavy flooding due to likely impending heavy rainfall across the country.
The National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) made this revelation in a a statement made available by Segilola Babalola, Press Officer, Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA).
Olusegun Afolayan, Head of Operation in charge of Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States during a sensitization programme organized for some residents at Gbodofon, Oninure street, Alekunwodo market and Mallam Tope area that were seriously affected by the last year flood gave them this warning.
Afolayan stressed that the programme was organized incollaboration with Osun State Emergency Management Agency ( OSEMA), and the Nigeria Red Cross Society, Osun State chapter as part of the Agency’s proactive response towards issuing warning alerts by different agencies dealing with weather.
According to him: “Osun State is one of the 28 states and 102 local government areas that are risk probable zones of the flooding while Osogbo and Ila Orangun are high probable areas in Osun.”
He therefore advised the residents of Osun to get themselves prepared for this year’s heavy downpour that may likely occur between August and October, charging them to avoid dumping of refuse on water ways as water will always find its level.
Also speaking at the sensitization program,The acting General manager, Osun State Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), Engr. Tajudeen Adabanija stressed the need to sensitize the people on the negative effect of flooding as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) in their report of Annual Flooding Outlook (AFO).
He said: “We don’t want to lose our people and their properties to flood, that is why the Governor of Osun State, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola deem it fit to channelize our water ways.”
He therefore appealed to the residents to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the gutter, but rather urged the people living close to river to relocate themselves to another place as the live of the citizen is paramount to governor Oyetola.
