Communities in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State are reeling from the aftermath of a rainstorm that has left landlords and residents homeless and in dire need of assistance. The affected areas include Oke-Aro, Matogbun, Olambe, Keredolu, Igbaotun, Araromi Oke-Odo, and Adio-Alausa.
Amidst their plight, the affected individuals have expressed their struggles in finding temporary accommodation elsewhere. Kazeem Agunbiade, the Chairman of the G-7 Environmental Committee and representative of the communities, highlighted the hardships faced by those whose properties were affected.
“Floods are flowing into homes. The experience is discomforting for those who are affected. The roads are flooded a lot of the time during the rainy season. This will prevent many people from going out,” Agunbiade said. He further explained that certain areas in the communities acted as waterbeds, collecting stagnant water for up to five months. As a result, some landlords resorted to deceiving tenants and selling the properties before abandoning the communities, while others simply abandoned their homes without looking back. Displaced individuals sought refuge in other nearby communities.
Tragically, the rainstorm has claimed the lives of at least two people, with poor drainage systems being identified as the cause of the flooding that impacted the communities. Agunbiade expressed his frustration, stating, “About three years ago, a woman and her child were buried under one of the open channels. Her corpse and that of her child were found the second day. A man also slumped and died after the flood swept away his property. We have been abandoned by the government.”
In response to the situation, Rotimi Oduniyi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ministry of Environment, advised the affected occupants to provide the ministry with the written letter detailing their grievances and locations for proper addressal. The affected communities hope that by reaching out to the ministry, their urgent needs will be acknowledged and necessary assistance will be provided to alleviate their suffering.
