As the aftermath of the Tuesday’s five-hour flood that ravaged some parts of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Wednesday disclosed that no fewer than 300 houses were affected with property worth millions of naira destroyed.
According to the South West Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, Mr Yakubu Sulieman the Agency was still collating the number of families displaced and means of livelihood destroyed, but it, however, observed that the major cause of the flood was indiscriminate dumping of refuse in rivers, as well as erecting of illegal structures on waterways and flood paths.
The NEMA boss made the disclosure after inspecting the affected areas across the state in company with the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Otunba Moses Adeyemo, who led other members of the State Executive Council on the tour. He assured that the agency would reach out to victims of the flood with relief materials at the end of the collation.
His words: “We were moved to come and inspect the level of damage following the report in the media. We have seen over 300 houses affected, with property and means of livelihoods in the tune of millions of naira destroyed.
“We also observed that the main cause of the flood is the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages and people erecting structures on flood path. This is indeed very dangerous. We can only implore the people to always observe the mandatory 30-metres setback required by the environmental and physical planning laws before erecting any structure.
“We are still counting the number of families affected and as soon as we get the actual figure, we will immediately bring in relief materials to support the victims. Just like we did in 2011, we will be there this time also to support the people as soon as we get the actual figures of the victims,” he said.