Olusegun Adeyemo
The Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has issued a flood alert to residents of flood-prone communities across the state, urging them to prepare for heavy rainfall and potential flooding.
In a statement released in Ibadan on Monday, the Administrative Secretary of SEMA, Mrs. Ojuolape Busari, cited reports from the Oyo State Flood Early Warning System predicting intense rainfall in areas to the east and northeast of Ibadan city centre.
These areas include parts of Lagelu Local Government Area, particularly Iyana Offa, Moniya (eastern sections), and communities stretching further east towards Osun State.
Busari further disclosed that some northern parts of Ibadan, especially the eastern edges of Egbeda LGA and areas bordering Lagelu, are also expected to experience heavy downpours. “Communities along the Ibadan-Ife Road (A5 highway), including Egbeda and areas further east, will be affected by the rainfall,” she said.
She explained that moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across much of Ibadan Metropolis, covering eastern and central parts of the city. Key locations include IITA, the Ibadan Airport, University of Ibadan, Ojoo, Akobo, Basorun, Gate, Challenge, and Ring Road, as well as parts of Akinyele and Oluyole LGAs.
Mrs. Busari assured residents that OYOSEMA, alongside other government agencies, voluntary organizations, and civil society groups, is on standby to provide assistance to affected communities.
She advised residents and travelers to take precautions, saying, “If you are in or traveling through the eastern and northeastern parts of Ibadan today, particularly along major roads heading east and north, you should prepare for significant rainfall that could lead to localized flooding.”
She urged residents to take proactive measures to reduce risks, adding, “Discretion is the better part of valour.”