Residents of Olodo, Lalupon, Ejioku, Kumapayi, and other communities along the Ibadan-Iwo Road are struggling to access their homes.
One of the bridges in the Olodo area, which connects Ibadan in Oyo State with Iwo in Osun State, collapsed on Monday morning due to a heavy rain downpour.
This led to heavy traffic and brought difficulty for commuters and residents wanting to use the bridge.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has assured residents of the affected communities’ quick intervention and other measures to ease their movement.
This is contained in a statement signed by the Chief Press Officer to the Oyo State Government, Sulaimon Olanrewaju
”The state’s inspection team from the Ministries of Works, Environment, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) paid an on-the-spot assessment to the sites of the collapsed bridges and roads at Olodo Garage, Ido and Akinyele in Ibadan to have a proper evaluation of the situation,” Olanrewaju said.
Speaking on behalf of the state government, the team leader and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs Modupe Adeleye, sympathized with the victims of the flood, stating that the government is aware of their plight and would take speedy action to allay their fears.
“It is really pathetic actually; it is sad what we are seeing here this morning. We came here as a team comprising the Ministries of Environment, Public Works, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), to see things for ourselves.
“There are palliatives that the government will put in place now to allay the people’s fears. So, the team looked for alternative routes because this place (Olodo Bridge) needs to be shut down for now to prevent the loss of lives and properties. After all, it is a hazardous zone.
“The suggestion now is that we should shut down and look for alternative routes for people to do their businesses, and so far, the best route that we have found is about five (5) kilometres. It spans from Wofun Junction through Kute to Olodo Bank. That will be the alternative route where the government will take a palliative measure for now,” she added.
Adeleye appealed to the residents to cooperate with the government, stating that the government would expedite action both on the ongoing construction works and the palliative on the alternative routes.
She added that the State Emergency Management Agency will soon enumerate houses wrecked by the flood.
Adeleye, who advised state residents to move away from flooded areas and stop building houses on setbacks and riverbanks, stressed that defiance of the warning poses dangers to their lives and properties.
