The residents of Okitipupa in Ondo State are facing a dire situation as flooding has displaced many individuals and submerged homes after three consecutive days of heavy rain.
An assessment by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday revealed extensive property damage and a surge in homelessness among the affected populace. The Okitipupa-Erinje axis, along with areas such as Omawa, Kuneyin, Apata, Igbodigo, and Ayeka, have suffered the most due to inadequate drainage systems.
In interviews with NAN, locals expressed their concerns, highlighting the distressing impact of the flooding as many houses were submerged, crippling commercial activities and preventing residents from attending to their businesses.
They have urgently called upon the Okitipupa Local Government to clear blocked drains and initiate the construction of drainage systems where they are lacking.
Mr Ganiyu Akinfenwa, a resident of Erinje, lamented that the community has long suffered from flooding due to poor drainage.
“We have been advocating for government intervention to build drainage systems that facilitate proper water flow during downpours like we have just experienced,” he stated.
Similarly, Mr Tosin Akindolire from Apata noted that many homes were flooded, forcing residents to remove water from their properties.
“Blocked drainages filled with plastic waste caused the overflow into our homes,” he explained, appealing for government assistance to resolve the drainage issues.
Mrs Catherine Ebisemiju from Omawa reported that the flooding had disrupted business activities, rendering residents unable to step outside during the torrential rain.
Chief Michael Orogbemi from Igbodigo pointed out that ongoing road construction has worsened the flooding situation, with water overflowing from the constructed drainage systems into homes.
“The construction of roads and drainage is negatively impacting us as the water spills into our residences,” he stated, urging the government to hasten the construction progress.
Mr Andrew Ogunsakin, the local government chairman, confirmed the flooding and stated that the council secretary had visited the affected areas. He promised residents a swift governmental response to address the flooding issues in Okitipupa and its surroundings.
“We have surveyed the impacted areas, and I assure residents of a swift intervention to mitigate flooding throughout Okitipupa and its vicinity,” Ogunsakin concluded.
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