KEY POINTS
- Urgent call for action as Ondo group raises alarm over increasing flood incidence.
- Appealing FGN and SGN partnership, Ekimogun Roundtable calls it the need to embrace the federal-state government collaboration.
- Ondo town is now facing a persistent flooding problem, which affects the community’s livelihood.
The socio- economic group in Ondo town, the Ekimogun Roundtable has urged the Federal Government and the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to intervene urgently over the worst flooding in the town. The group asserted that the flooding has become an annual incidence occasioned by loss of lives and properties and with residents living in perpetual fear.
Disaster impact: flooding gets to emergency situation
During the weekend, the Ekimogun Roundtable made a public announcement and stated in the copy that was signed by the Acting Secretary of the organization, Christiana Ayodele, the group called on the appropriate Federal Government departments such as the Ecological Fund Office and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to come to their rescue immediately. They also called on the state government to proffer sustainable solution to the development which has made its different areas such as Ife Road, Saluwa, Sabo, New Town, Itanla-Oke Odunwo and Orimolade axis of the town notorious.
Virtually all the areas around Saluwa, Ife Road, Sabo, New Town, Itanla, Oke Odunwo and Orimolade have been taken over by the flooding.. ‘It is no longer seasonal sickness but a major threat to life, learning, income and permanent damage to the people and the society.’
An appeal for the government cooperation and the development of a comprehensive plan
The group suggested that partnership with state government, federal government and other stakeholders should provide a framework to ensure development of the best frameworks for effective flood management. The statement acknowledged that local residents tried attempting to control the flooding but said that they cannot do it anymore.
“But we strongly feel that this problem could be address through diplomacy and political will before more lives are affected,” Ayodele said. “Despite all our efforts as a people and a community we have struggled immensely to manage this situation, and right now we can barely manage.”
According to The Punch, The group urged people to act now as it cannot be refuted that the problem must be solved in order to prevent families, businesses as well as the whole community to suffer.
These are requirements that we need now for our families, for the success of our businesses and the future, concluded Ayodele.
