Olusegun Adeyemo
The Ogun State Government has urged residents of the state not to panic in the face of the flash floods being witnessed across the state.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Ola Oresanya, in a statement on Sunday, said the flash flood which follows each downpour is a natural occurrence.
He said rather than panicking, residents should stay calm and adhere to safety rules to forestall unpleasant incidents.
The commissioner said the call became necessary to calm frayed nerves and remind the people of what they must do to safeguard their lives and property during this rainy season when predictable flash floods are prevalent.
He reminded them of the need to stay indoors when raining or stay in a safe place when in transit.
“Motorists and commuters are also advised to avoid the temptation to cross flood paths until the flood recedes, which is usually within one to two hours.
“Households and community leaders are equally advised to ensure that all constrictions along drainage channels and canals are removed,” he said.
He warned residents of the state to expect more torrential rain in the next three weeks, which is the first peak of the rainy season.
He also urged them to contact the State Emergency Management Agency and the Flood Emergency Management response teams at the nearest local government in case of any emergency.
Oresanya said community development associations across the state had been put on red alert to mobilise as first responders for flood emergency management within their communities.
