Towards stemming the tide of flooding, which recently ravaged a part of the state capital, Osogbo, the Osun State Government has moved to dredge further areas prone to flooding as its machines continued work on Wednesday.
At the sight of the machines, which moved to site again, residents applauded the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on his proactive steps to save the state from flood disasters.
The Project contractor, Engineer Tope Awodiji, led a team on the dredging work.
Awodiji assured the residents of proper clearing of all the waterways in the state, adding that the machines had been strategically deployed to achieve the goal.
Awosiji listed areas such as Gbonmi, Alie Agbede, Fiwasaye, Obatede, Old Garage, Alekunwodo and Ita-Olokan, all in Osogbo, as areas of focus for the dredging at the state capital.
He said: “As we all aware since 2011, the present government has being dredging waterways in different areas across the state to prevent flooding and other natural disasters.
“We have started again to ensure that all our waterways, drainages and canal systems are cleared just as heavy machineries have been deployed in various areas of the state to ease the flow of water.”
Awosiji cautioned the people of the state against what he called indiscriminate dumping of wastes, adding that the nature and character of the waste excavated showed that residents need more education on their waste disposal culture.
When asked about the sustainability of the exercise, Awosiji promised that it would go a long way to prevent the flood as it was aimed at facilitating free flow of water.
Some of the residents who expressed satisfaction over the dredging, said widening the waterways would definitely ensure permanent prevention of ecological challenges in the state.
Some of the residents of Alie Agbede Oke-Baale axis of Osogbo – Oladimeji Adenle, Oyewola Olowookere, Muhammad Musbau and Adegoke Fadilulahi – commended the state government for embarking on the clearing projects.
According to Fadilullahi: “Governor Aregbesola has been so wonderful to citizens as his government has been successfully prioritizing our welfare as citizens.
“Every individual would attest to it that this government has tried in flood control since inception.
“Take for instance, since the recent flooding, the government has been working round the clock to avoid a future recurrence.”
Osun moves dredging machines to flooded areas
