A recent torrential rainfall across Osun State has led to widespread flooding in multiple communities, causing significant damage to property and infrastructure. The heavy downpour, which occurred between Friday and Monday, resulted in flooding in parts of Osogbo, including Ayekale, Famson Area, Oke Baale, Sasa, and Ilesa Garage. The flooding has disrupted the movement of people, goods, and services in the affected areas.
The impact of the flooding was particularly severe in Ilesa, where Muroko Road was inundated following the overflow of the Ora River. The bridge linking Ijaregbe to Ilesa was also damaged after several hours of rainfall on Monday, cutting off the community from the city centre. In addition to Ijaregbe, communities such as Ijana, Ibala, Ayegunle, Idooko, and Eesun Ijesa also experienced flooding.
Residents of Ayekale, Osogbo, have reported significant losses due to the flooding. Akin Olugbodi and Shekinat Olaegbe, both residents of Ayekale, stated that they lost property in the flooding that ravaged the area after heavy rainfall last Friday. Olaegbe, a widow, reported that several houses were flooded, and she lost valuables to the incident.
The Olomu of Ijaregbe, Oba Edward Adetimo, confirmed that the bridge linking his community to Ilesa had been damaged following the heavy downpour. He stated that the collapse of the bridge was caused by the heavy rainfall at midnight and that a House of Assembly member representing Obokun State Constituency, Hon. Adewumi Adeyemi, had visited to assess the situation.
The Osun State Commissioner for Environment, Mayowa Adejoorin, has stated that the state government had taken measures to mitigate the effects of flooding. Adejoorin described flooding as a seasonal occurrence associated with heavy and prolonged rainfall, saying that the situation had not degenerated to an uncontrollable level in the state.
According to Adejoorin, the state government had embarked on preventive measures to mitigate the negative impacts of flooding before the commencement of the annual rainfall. These measures include dredging waterways to allow easy passage of water and awareness and sensitisation campaigns against indiscriminate dumping of refuse across or along waterways.
The recent flooding and collapse of the bridge and box culvert linking Ilesa with neighbouring communities are considered physical responsibilities of the Ministry of Works. The ministry has swung into action to provide a temporary fix pending full reconstruction. The flooding has caused significant disruptions to daily life, with children attending schools in Ilesa unable to go to school on Monday.
Key points
- The Osun State government has taken measures to mitigate the effects of flooding, including dredging waterways and awareness campaigns.
- The flooding has caused significant disruptions to daily life, with multiple communities affected.
- The state government has assured that officials from the Ministry of Works will provide a temporary fix to the damaged bridge pending full reconstruction.
