Flooding: Gangaria Seeks Federal Intervention as Over 2,000 Osogbo Households Are Displaced

Flooding: Gangaria Seeks Federal Intervention as Over 2,000 Osogbo Households Are Displaced

 

OSOGBO — The lawmaker representing Irepodun/Orolu/Olorunda/Osogbo Federal Constituency, Osun State, Adewale Morufu Adebayo Gangaria, has called for urgent federal intervention to address recurring flooding and storm-related disasters that have devastated communities across his constituency.

 

Gangaria presented a Motion of Urgent Public Importance before the House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 14, drawing attention to the plight of residents affected by flooding, windstorms and thunderstorms, particularly in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

 

According to a statement from his media team, the disasters have affected more than 45 communities, causing extensive damage to residential buildings, markets, schools, hospitals, places of worship, farms, hotels and other critical infrastructure.

 

The statement reported that more than 800 buildings had been destroyed, while over 2,000 households were displaced, leaving many residents struggling to find shelter following the destruction of their homes and sources of livelihood.

 

Among the affected communities identified by the lawmaker are Olude, Ita-Olookan, Irepodun Zone 9, Osaara, Owode Ilesha Garage, Ibuaje Town, Aberensise, Surulere, Ajangbooro, Oke Odo, Irewole, Ile Aanu, Orelope, Odofin, Omigade, Aroko, Baruwa, Ibu-Amon and Ijetu Ayepe.

 

Gangaria expressed concern over the hardship facing residents whose properties and livelihoods had been damaged, stressing the need for a coordinated response to the humanitarian crisis and the environmental factors contributing to the recurring disasters.

 

As part of the proposed intervention, the lawmaker urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to provide immediate relief assistance to affected communities.

 

He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently distribute relief materials to victims to ease their suffering and support households displaced by the disaster.

 

The lawmaker further urged the South-West Development Commission to mobilise resources towards the rehabilitation and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, including residential buildings, schools, hospitals, markets and access roads.

 

He said addressing the immediate needs of affected residents must go hand in hand with rebuilding essential facilities and restoring normal economic and social activities in the affected communities.

 

Gangaria also called on the Ecological Fund Office to implement practical measures to tackle the underlying causes of flooding and reduce the likelihood of future occurrences.

 

As part of efforts to improve water flow and reduce flood risks, he urged the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to undertake necessary dredging and expansion of the Osun River channel, including the removal of obstructions that could impede water movement.

 

The lawmaker also called on the relevant federal ministry responsible for mining to address mining activities along riverbanks that may contribute to environmental hazards and expose nearby communities to further risks.

 

To ensure that the proposed interventions translate into concrete action, Gangaria urged the House to mandate its Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor the implementation of the resolutions and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.

 

The proposed measures seek to combine immediate humanitarian assistance with longer-term environmental interventions aimed at protecting lives, restoring damaged infrastructure and reducing the vulnerability of communities to recurring floods.

 

Flooding and severe storms can disrupt transportation, damage public infrastructure, destroy agricultural produce and undermine the livelihoods of residents, particularly where homes and businesses are affected. The scale of the destruction reported in the constituency has therefore raised concerns about the need for timely relief and sustainable flood-management measures.

 

The motion represents an effort to bring the concerns of affected constituents before the National Assembly and press relevant federal agencies to respond to their needs.

 

However, the effectiveness of the proposed intervention will depend on the implementation of any resolutions adopted by the House and the timely mobilisation of resources by the relevant agencies.

 

For residents of the affected communities, immediate priorities include access to emergency relief, safe shelter, the restoration of essential services and the rehabilitation of damaged properties and infrastructure.

 

Long-term measures to improve drainage, manage waterways, address environmental degradation and strengthen disaster preparedness will also be important in reducing the risk of similar incidents.

 

The lawmaker’s intervention has placed the reported flood disaster in Osogbo and neighbouring communities before the House of Representatives, with a call for coordinated action to address both the immediate suffering of victims and the environmental challenges associated with recurring flooding.

 

Flooding: Gangaria Seeks Federal Intervention as Over 2,000 Osogbo Households Are Displaced