Human activities, major challenge to Ogun River, says Ambode

Gov. Akinwumi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday identified human activities as the major challenge affecting the flooding plains around the Ogun River.

Ambode said this at the opening of a two-day stakeholders’ summit on “The `negative  impact of flooding of Ogun River on adjourning towns and villages in Lagos State.’’

Dr Babatunde Adejare, the Commissioner for Environment, represented the governor at the function.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in 2016, a part of the Ogun River which flows under the Kara Bridge around Ojodu Berger area of Lagos State was reported to have suddenly gone dry.

Ambode, in his address  said that human  activities such as none compliance with physical planning regulations and flagrant abuse of environment were responsible for happenings from Ogun River as it flows into Lagos State.

“For us to bequeath a sustainable environment to prosperity, we need to change our orientation’ that is the way we relate with the environment.

“This assembly will do well to consider the key issues affecting the flooding of the plains of Ogun River.

“It must come up with recommendations on how best to raise awareness, bring attitudinal change, achieve integration and proper management of the river as natural resources,’’ he said .

Ambode said that people were creating problems for themselves under  civilisation and expansion as manifested in the flooding of the plains of Ogun River.

He said that they should also match it by their capacity to create solutions to it.

Ambode recalled that people living in the flood plains, especially, in Isheri North, Ajegunle, (Ikorodu) wooden-Elede, Agiliti, Maidan and Itowolo had been at the receiving end of the flooding from Ogun River.

“In response to the above phenomenon, we have strengthened the Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) to deliver reliable ,timely and effective flood information to people at the appropriate time,” he said.

Also, the  Commissioner for the Environment, Dr BabatundeAdejare, represented by Mr Babatunde Hunter, , said there was the need for collaboration for proper management of the river basin.

Hunter is the  Special Adviser to the Governor on the Environment

Adejare said the objectives of the summit were to provide an avenue for the agencies involved to suggest the ways forward.

He listed these agencies as the Governments  of Ogun, Osun,Oyo and Lagos States.

He said that their coming together this would enable them achieve an effective and sustainable strategy in maximising the benefits of the river basin to the South West.

He said the summit would also provide an interactive forum aimed at putting an end to the incessant flooding of the downstream of the river basin.