Some residents, traders and other business ventures on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have been sent packing by a water surge induced by the release of excess water from the Oyan River Dam.
Our correspondent who visited the area on Monday saw that the water almost levelled up the long bridge along the highway.
Residents who live in estates like Isheri Riverview, and other residential surroundings in Warewa to the OPIC area were mostly affected.
The dam, which is managed by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority, and located at Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state, released excess water this month.
Some workers at a block industry around OPIC said the water was making it difficult for them to work as there was nowhere to put their feet.
One of them, identified simply as Akande, said, “The water at some point covered up some of our blocks, but it is gradually reducing because we are at the tail end of the water flow. But many vehicles we use for our work and those parked by others have been submerged.”
A resident of Isheri Riverview, Tunde Adebanjo, said, “The water is often released like this every year and we suffer the consequences. I only came here to check if the water had gone down, but there was no positive sign at all. We have moved temporarily to a place in Lagos.”
Our correspondent also observed that the Mikano company along the highway had its frontage and compound flooded. Efforts to get close to the building to hear from the workers proved abortive as the water surrounded the premises. While one or two persons were seen in the compound from afar, other passersby said activities in the company were affected.
Meanwhile, the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Monday declared a state of emergency in the flooded area as he assured residents of quick intervention.
The governor spoke with journalists after inspecting the flooded community, saying that his administration is working with the Federal Government to deal with the situation as an emergency case.
The governor said, “We will prioritise the works here because I am touched with what I have seen. I will ensure that we immediately begin to see signs of relief as we step this up. The Minister of State for Environment is already aware. The Vice President is already aware and also the President. It will be dealt with as an emergency and we are taking it as such.
“As an emergency, I would like to take it up myself. Please continue to bear with us as we are going to conduct a comprehensive assessment of what we need to do to make this place conducive for living.”
Addressing residents of Riverview Estate, Abiodun said he had requested an area survey of the estate to identify critical areas that needed immediate intervention.
He assured that the intervention would come through the construction of an elevated road with adequate drainages to mitigate their suffering.
The governor described the environment around the Kara cattle market as an eyesore and not befitting the dreams of a “new Ogun State.”
He said that the market was not conducive to human living and not in tandem with the Sustainable Development Goals and waste disposal.
The Chairman, Riverview Estate, Abayomi Akande, in his remarks, intimated the governor about the suffering residents of the area are going through as a result of the flooding.
He said there was a need for a panel of inquiry into the operations of Oyan Dam to stop the incessant release of water to cause havoc in the state.
