A devastating flood swept through parts of Ondo town on Friday, destroying property worth millions of naira.
The flood, triggered by hours of heavy rainfall, submerged houses and vehicles in areas like Itanla, Oka, Odo Ijomu, Bethlehem, and the Akure-Ondo Expressway. Fortunately, no lives were lost.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa promptly ordered the evacuation of affected areas to mitigate further damage. The state government has also deployed Amphibious Excavators to critical erosion-prone areas for dredging, ensuring a proactive approach to preventing future floods. Commissioner for Environment, Oyeniyi Oseni, revealed that these measures were put in place following predictions by NIMET.
According to Oseni, the flood was partly caused by development on waterways in an estate at Fagun and along Ife Road ¹. To address this, the Ministry of Environment will collaborate with relevant government agencies to halt unlawful development along waterways.
The government’s swift response has brought relief to affected residents. Dredging activities are ongoing in areas like Laje, Oke-Odunwo, Akure, Igbokoda, and Ore to prevent future flooding ¹. The state’s proactive measures demonstrate its commitment to protecting lives and property.
Residents are urging the government not to extend the three-week break for schools, emphasizing the need for normalcy to return ¹. As the community comes together to rebuild, the government’s efforts to prevent future floods will be crucial in restoring stability.
