Oyo Govt To Establish LG Emergency Committee, May Relocate Residents At Flood ‘Hotspots’ To IDP Camp — SEMA

By Henry Odeh

The Oyo state government has said that efforts are already being intensified towards establishment of flood management committee at local government level as pragmatic and proactive approach towards averting flooding in the state.

The Executive Director, Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Lukman Aransi, made this disclosure on Monday while speaking exclusively with Sunrisebulletin.com in his office at the state secretariat, Ibadan, said that government is doing so much to end the issue of flooding in the state.

He explained that even though SEMA in Oyo state under the leadership of its Chairman who is also the Deputy Governor of Oyo state, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, is working tirelessly by engaging all stakeholders to ensure efficiency in emergency response, residents in the state must endeavor to also take responsibility by complying with government directives.

According Mr Aransi, people who built houses and shops around flood prone areas across the state may soon be relocated to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camp that has been created at Amuloko area of Ona-ara local government, in order to effectively protect lives and properties of its residents.

He added that several public sensitization and awareness campaign had been carried out in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), urging residents to desist from activities capable of bringing about flood in the state.

Mr Aransi explained further that since the Agency’s meeting with the Nigerian Metrology (NIMET) in Abuja earlier in the year where it was revealed that there will be heavy downpour in the current season, Oyo SEMA has embarked on aggressive campaign using the media, community leaders, market women etc. to sensitize the people to observe necessary precautions to avert flooding.

He assured that Oyo SEMA will continue to mobilize people and relevant stakeholders towards being proactive to flood management as against being reactive to emergencies after the damage was already done, urging residents to cooperate and support government to achieve success story stressing that government alone will never be able to achieve much if the people fail to play their part by complying with all directives from government.