Editor
The Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has provided assurance to the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Abeokuta Branch, Ogun State, regarding the Federal government’s endeavors to prevent flooding across the nation.
Dr. Salako conveyed this commitment while meeting with a delegation led by Engr. Olumuyiwa Idowu, FNSE, Chairman of the Abeokuta Branch, at his office in Abuja.
Acknowledging the Ministry’s awareness of prevalent flood-prone areas in Ogun State, the Minister emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive collaborative effort with the State Government to establish a lasting solution to the issue of flooding in the state.
Salako encouraged the NSE Abeokuta Branch to actively engage with the State Government through advocacy initiatives aimed at addressing all factors contributing to flooding in Ogun State.
Furthermore, the Minister highlighted the importance of public education on the adverse effects of using drainages and culverts as disposal sites, the repercussions of flooding, and the advantages of promoting tree planting.
In his introductory remarks, Engr. Olumuyiwa Idowu, FNSE, Chairman of NSE, Abeokuta Branch, briefed the Minister on their extensive flood assessment conducted in 33 locations within the Abeokuta metropolis and Ilaro of Ogun State, which have been significantly impacted by flooding due to improper waste disposal in drainages.
Idowu urged authorities to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all critical infrastructures in Ogun State that are currently at risk of collapse, seeking the Minister’s support for the full implementation of their assessment report currently under consideration by the Ogun State Government.
