The Ogun State Government has announced plans to temporarily shelter residents displaced by flooding caused by the release of water from the Oyan Dam.
As the floodwaters continue to ravage several communities along the flood plain, the state said it was focusing on actions to protect affected individuals, including providing accommodations in underutilised hotels.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, disclosed these plans in an interview on Monday evening.
He said the government was working on securing temporary shelters for residents and those at risk in flood-prone areas.
“Some hotels have been made available for us to use if there is a need for it,” Oresanya explained.
“We have an arrangement around the Lagos-Ibadan Express Road, and around the state. And most of the hotels, right now, are underutilised. They don’t use them during this period.
“And some of the hotels have been made available for us to use if there is a need for it.”
He explained that residents had been given a hotline to call.
He said, “And I will tell them to give us a call if there is a need for evacuation, and we’ll come and evacuate, especially the vulnerable ones.”
Reports indicate that flooding has significantly disrupted life in Isheri, Arepo, Lafenwa, Warewa, and other adjoining communities along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The floodwaters, driven by the release from the Oyan Dam, have forced many residents and business owners to relocate. The dam, managed by the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority, has periodically released water to manage overflow.
A resident who stays around the Isheri area, Jumoke Adebanjo, told our reporter that “We have been restless for about two weeks because of the water. The water level keeps rising and our apartments are filled with water. This problem has persisted over the years and we hope that a permanent solution is put to this issue of dam opening.”
A block industry operator identified simply as Jamiu said most parts of his sand for making blocks had been washed away by the flood. “It is affecting my business. There is nowhere to move my industry even if others are moving,” Jamiu lamented.
While the dam’s management is necessary to prevent it from overflowing, the downstream effects have been devastating for those living in low-lying areas.
Residents in these areas have been struggling to cope as the floods have damaged homes, businesses, and basic infrastructure. Affected communities are facing a growing crisis as the floodwaters rise.
