Osun Spends N2.5 Billion On Flood Control

Staff June 10, 2014

Osun State government has spent N2.5 billion to mitigate the perennial death associated with flooding in the state.
In Osogbo, the State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Professor Bukola Oyawoye, said that in the last three and half years, the present government has done everything within its power to stem the annual death as a result of flooding in the state.
She said that all the rivers in the state had been dredged, expanded and people conscientious had been awaken on the danger of blocking water way in the state.
Her words: “Before the present government came on board, things were extremely bad in the state as rivers were just sweeping pupils and students away in the state; there was even one in the state capital on July 7, 2010 when a pupil was swept away. It was a real agony in the state as the government of the day could not do much to mitigate the agony of the people of the state.
“But what could not be done by the past administration, this government has done, and in the last three and half years, nothing of such has happened. It is due to the ingenuity of the present administration which deems it fit to dredge all the waterways in the state and make live more bearable for the people of Osun State.”
The commissioner said that the world is at risk of extinction as a result of gas flaring, emissions from industries and other anthropogenic and natural activities released into the atmosphere, leading to depletion of the ozone.
She said that the effects of the scenario in the contemporary world are coaster erosion, severe flooding and incessant loss of lives and property, calling on the people of the state to stop blocking waterway in the state, saying the consequence was always devastating flood that will be injurious to the health and lives.
” People are always at risk when water rises as a result of pouring refuse on water and blocking the waterway. So also when rain falls and it is not allowed to flow freely, there will be effect on the environment”.
Oyawoye therefore called on the people of Osun State to always live in a healthy environment and stop dumping refuse on the main water in the state, saying that government has provided enough waste bins and deposed vehicles to make the state clean.
Special Adviser to the governor on Water Resources and Rural Development, Kunle Ige, assured the people of the state that the state government will continue to make life better for them through the ongoing beautification exercise across the state.
ALLAFRICA