In a series of videos made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday, several streets in the communities were submerged in the flood, which was due to a downpour on Sunday afternoon.
While the residents complained about how the flood had disrupted their daily activities, they noted that the incident had been recurring for the past three years. Yet, no viable solution from the state government was in sight.
A resident of Wazobia Street in the Aseese community, identified as Oladele Agboola, told our correspondent that today’s (Sunday) flood was due to the downpour.
Agboola said, “Today’s rainfall caused the flood, and this isn’t the first time. It also happened last year. We’ve been to the local government and the State Ministry of Environment in Abeokuta to complain.
“The ministry invited our representatives after we complained as the flood affected about five communities in the local government.”
As contained in a letter dated January 20, 2024, addressed to the State Commissioner for Environment, which was acknowledged by the commissioner’s office on February 20, 2024; the Wazobia Community Development Association which oversees both Oloke and Aseese communities, requested the commissioner’s office to assist them in tackling the incessant flood.
The letter, which was jointly signed by the CDA Chairman and Secretary, John Onuoha and Ndubusi Eze, respectively; lamented that the ministry had ignored its predicament, adding that the flood had caused the loss of properties while some residents have been displaced.
More so, the CDA offered to pay for the logistics of using the ministry’s swampy buggy to “swiftly assist in clearing all the water channels that usually culminate flood” to the neighbourhood.
In another letter dated April 6, 2023, and addressed to the State Commissioner for Environment, which was acknowledged by the commissioner’s office on April 11, 2023; the communities blamed the flood on a Chinese company called Swisspolo Yanuo Industry Nigeria Limited.
The CDA noted that the company extended its building and fence over the communities’ water drainage system, which connects waste water to the expressway water channel.
It said all efforts made by its leadership to plead with the management of the Chinese company to remove the blockage away from the water channel proved abortive.
In a telephone conversation with the CDA chairman, he said, “We haven’t seen any effort from the state government. Rather, we’ve complained, and they have sent so many people to come and inspect the canal.
“When they visited, they also went to the point where we were complaining that the Chinese were blocking the place and everywhere became flooded. Now, when they get to them, they’ll say they’ll get back to us, and we’ll not hear anything again.
“The last meeting we held with them in their office, they told the Chinese people to make an alternative canal in their compound. Up till now, they haven’t done anything, and we’ve reported back to the state government.”
Onuoha stated, “As of now that I’m speaking to you, if you come to Wazobia and the neighbouring CDA, everywhere is flooded.
“So many people have vacated their residence in this Wazobia because of the flood.”
He also blamed the Chinese company for narrowing the canal, which has impeded the flow of water, saying, “We always clear the canal. As I’m talking to you, most residents will not sleep in their houses as everywhere is flooded.”
When contacted by our correspondent, the state Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, acknowledged that the ministry was aware of the flooding in the communities.
“I’m aware of that area. They have an issue of litigation between a church and a developer, and that’s distorted the progress of work, especially on land matters.
*There’s a stay order from the court which also restrains us from doing what we’ve to do and we’ve told the court of the consequences of this. With this issue now that’s happened with the flood in that area, we’ll escalate this with the court so that they’ll be able to go beyond sentiment and look at the consequences of some of these litigation when it comes to human lives and human health,” Oresanya noted.
While stating that the area is flood-prone, the commissioner cautioned people from constructing buildings in wetlands, adding that they should get approvals from the state government and drainage engineers.
He added that the state government had to demolish some houses in the Makogi, Magada, and Magboro areas of the state because the houses were built on drainage channels.
