The Chairman, Ogun State House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts and Anti-Corruption, Damilare Bello, has urged the management of the State Environmental Protection Agency to begin vigorous campaigns that would help to prevent flooding and the attendant loss of lives and properties in the state.
Bello said that there is a need for the agency to begin the evacuation and clearing of drainages to enhance the free flow of water.
The lawmaker, in a statement on Wednesday, gave the charge while playing host to the management of the agency led by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Sam Oyeleye.
The visit of the agency was in continuation of the consideration of the audit report on Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government for the 2021 and 2022 financial years.
The lawmaker said, “There is the need for your agency to begin vigorous enlightenment campaigns to avoid the incidence of flooding in all parts of the state. Our people should be properly educated on what they should do to steer clear of habits that could aid flooding.
‘It will also be good to help in evacuating blocked drainages, and clear all the water paths so that there can be a free flow of water whenever it rains. We must take the issue of flood alert as issued by the government very seriously to save lives and properties.”
Responding, Oyeleye disclosed that the Ministry of Environment was already synergising with the Ministry of Physical Planning for all developers to obtain drainage permits in line with standard practice to prevent erosion and flooding.
He noted that before embarking on the construction of any structure, it was important to have standard drainage system to allow free flow of water.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya had, last week, in a briefing, said that 16 out of the 20 Local Government Areas in the state are expected to have the highest rainfall and might be susceptible to flooding challenge.
The state government had warned those living in flood-prone areas to evacuate elsewhere so as not be caught unaware as the rainy season sets in.
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