In its determination to prevent occurrence of devastating flood disaster in any part of Ondo State, the state government has raised a team of officers of the Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Environment and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to move round cities and towns in the state to identify flood prone areas for immediate preventive action and also proffer long term solution.
The decision became imperative to take proactive actions to forestall the April 11, 2025 forecast by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) that Ondo State is among the 30 states to experience high risk of devastating flood disaster this year and also avoid the reoccurrence of devastating loss of lives and properties experienced in Mokwa, Niger State.
The team led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Oluwagbenga Akingbasote and the Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr Olumide Kinga and the Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Orunko was in Ondo City where many houses in the flood prone areas have been abandoned by residents to avoid the imminent disaster.
In his remarks after visiting some of the prone areas in the city, Mr Akingbasote stated that the state government through the Ministry of Environment would embark on immediate dredging, expansion and clearing of the water ways to ensure free flow of water anytime its raining as immediate measure while the long term measures would be production of new layout in the flood prone areas to determine the proper course of the river, reconstruction and expansion of bridges along the river course and demolition of buildings and all illegal structures along the water ways.
Mr Akingbasote, who commended the State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa for embarking on the various proactive measures to prevent imminent flood disaster in the state, warned the people to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse on drainages, construction of buildings and structures on river ways for the safety of their lives and properties.
The team was joined by the Chairman of Ondo West Local Government Area, Hon. Ayotunde Akinfolarin and other prominent indigenes to move round the various flood prone locations in the city among which are Ondo Grammar School Area, Ondo-Ife road and Fagun Estate.
In a related development, the Permanent Secretary led the Directors and some Officers of his Ministry on inspection tour of Ministry’s Area Office complex in Ondo City where he expressed his displeasure about dilapidated condition of the building and facilities in the office but still charge the staff to be diligent on their job notwithstanding unconducive condition of the office, assuring them that urgent step would be taken to make things better for them.
The team was at Moferere market to settle land dispute between two building owners and thereafter moved to a construction site along Ondo-Ife road to effect partial demolition of a structure whose owner refused to honour all notices served on him by the Ministry.
Williams Oni
Director Information
MPPUD.
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