Olusegun Adeyemo
Devastating floods have displaced dozens of residents in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State following a prolonged three-day downpour that submerged homes and crippled local businesses.
The heavy rainfall, which began earlier in the week, left parts of the town waterlogged, especially in communities lacking functional drainage systems. Worst-hit areas include Erinje, Omawa, Kuneyin, Apata, Igbodigo, and Ayeka, where floodwaters overwhelmed both residential and commercial spaces.
Residents, many of whom were forced to evacuate, spent hours bailing water from their homes in an attempt to salvage belongings. With roads impassable and shops submerged, economic activities in the affected areas have come to a standstill.
In interviews with The Journal Nigeria, frustrated residents appealed to the local government for urgent intervention, blaming the crisis on years of infrastructural neglect and poor waste management.
“We’ve been dealing with this for years,” lamented Nike Akinfenwa, a resident of Erinje. “Whenever it rains heavily, water has nowhere to go. We need proper drainage in this community to stop this yearly disaster.”
In Apata, Tosin Akindolire blamed the flooding on clogged gutters filled with non-biodegradable waste.
“The gutters are filled with nylons and plastic bottles. That’s why the water couldn’t flow and ended up inside our homes,” he said.
From Omawa, Catherine Ebisemiju described how the flood completely halted daily life.
“Many people couldn’t even leave their homes to go to work or open their shops. Everything stood still,” she said.
At Igbodigo, Michael Orogbemi cited ongoing road and drainage construction as a contributing factor to the flooding.
“The drainage work is still ongoing, but it’s already affecting us. Water from the construction overflows and floods our homes. We are asking the government to speed up the project and stick to schedule,” he urged.
Reacting to the situation, the Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government, Andrew Ogunsakin, confirmed that the council was fully aware of the flood’s impact. He noted that the council secretary had visited the affected communities to assess the extent of the damage.
“We’ve inspected the communities, and I want to assure residents that the local government will act swiftly to mitigate future flooding,” Ogunsakin stated.
“We are committed to protecting lives and property across Okitipupa and its surroundings.”
He further emphasized the need for improved environmental sanitation and called on residents to avoid dumping refuse in drainages, especially as the rainy season intensifies.
As Okitipupa continues to count its losses, community members hope the local government’s assurances will translate into concrete action to prevent a recurrence of this disaster in the months ahead.