Ogun flood: FGN to provide relief materials to victims – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday visited places affected by recent flood that occurred in Abeokuta and its environs, assuring that the Federal Government would come to the aide of the Ogun State government with relief materials for the victims.

Osinbajo who described the last Friday flood that ravaged homes, business premises, bridges  and even claimed lives,  as “very very unfortunate,” said aside the immediate provision of succour to the victims, further assistance would  be provided on a permanent basis to help cushion the effects of flood in the state.

The Vice – President gave hint of the assistance while fielding questions from reporters  in  Abeokuta, the state capital, during his on-the-spot  assessment of some of the ravaged areas.

He was accompanied by the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun and Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja.

He rued that despite the drainages and infrastructure put in place by the state government, the flood still wreaked havoc, assuring that the Federal Government would collaborate with the state to improve on the infrastructure in order to forestall future occurrence.

“Let me say what has happened here is very  very unfortunate indeed.  A lot of the drainages have been done, but the level of the rain had been so heavy that it has overtaken the infrastructure in place.  So what we are looking at is how this can be enhanced and we are also discussing  with His Excellency on how to do this.

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“We have to really sit down and look at those challenges properly.  We are providing immediate relief materials to support the state govt.  We learnt that NEMA was here to provide that immediate succour.  On a permanent basis, we are planning on how to sit with the state government on how to provide succour,” he said.

He conveyed the Federal Government’s condolence to the families of the victims and Ogun State government, and advised residents to change behaviours that obstruct the drainages.

“The unfortunate incident is unavoidable. Flash flooding where you have rain for hours,  especially rains in the tropics, the type in the area that we are, it is difficult  to avoid flash flooding. We are fortunate that it did not take place at nigh, because if it did, and there is a sudden surge of water,  it will naturally cause a lot of disaster.

“One of the things that we have to do as a people is that we have to change our habit of blocking drainages. Inspite of channelisation, where you have this kind heavy rain falling within short hours,  it will be like this. What we might need to do when the rain is heavy, is that those who live in the valley, will have to move quickly to higher ground. This is because there is nothing we can do about a valley,  a valley is a valley.

“On the whole, the loss of lives is very unfortunate. The FG commiserates with the families  of the victims and the state government. And I want to also say that God has been gracious to us because it would have been worse, but for the drainages and the infrastructure in place,  which has helped to move the waters away.

“As you can see, it has been dissipated despite the huge surge of the flood.  So I think we should be thankful to God and the state government for providing this kind of infrastructure and the quick response to minimize the loss,”. Osinbajo said.

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