Residents of flood-prone areas want govt intervention

Residents of flood/erosion prone areas in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have appealed to the state government to embark on the channelisation of rivers and streams in the affected areas.A cross-section of the residents, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Osogbo on Tuesday, said that quick intervention by the government would prevent the recurrence of the flooding experienced in 2010.The areas affected include Alekuwodo, Akindeko market, Obatedo, Isale-Osun, Ikolaba, Oke-Baale,  Gbonmi and Gbodofon, NAN reports.NAN recalls that residents of these areas had a lot of their property damaged during a heavy downpour on July, 7, 2010.The rain, which lasted  six hours, submerged three houses and claimed two lives, while property worth millions of naira were destroyed.The victims said that their call became imperative to forestall another flood incident and to ensure that people adhered to sanitation laws.A landlord in Isale-Osun, Alhaji Saka Adekunle, said:``We are approaching the rainy season now; the state government should speed up action on the channelisation of the streams and waterways.Another landlord at Gbonmi area, who preferred anonymity, recalled that the ousted administration of Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, had set up a committee that inspected the areas where structures were erected on the river banks.``Some structures were marked for demolition, so the new administration should continue with the process of freeing waterways of any obstruction to avoid flooding this year, he advised.A civil servant, Mr Kolade Olaitan, who resides at Gbodofon, also called on the state government to ensure effective town planning and drainage system to save the people from flood and erosion.
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