Tackling blocked drainages and rivers.
This year, we tried to build on the success we had last year. Despite the fact that we had heavy rainfall last year, that increased substantially the volume of water flow, this happened in other southwest states also, we didn’t experience any serious flood disaster in 2017. This year, before the rains started, we had identified some rivers, 34 of them, that were prone to flood. What we did is to get them expanded. By now, we have almost completed the dredging.
With the way people handle waste, especially plastic waste, we discovered that some drainages inside Ibadan have been blocked. We identified 30 of such. If you look around town, you will discover that we have been clearing them. Once you block the flow of water in drainages, it will find its level onto the streets.
In search of permanent solution: sensitisation and engagement
We thought of putting permanent solution to the flood. So, we started serious sensitisation – this was the first thing we did. Why did we do this? Many people don’t know or see the effect of their behaviours and attitude especially towards the way we dispose solid waste. They don’t think there could be a link between the way we are disposing our waste and the level of flooding we can experience. So, we began sensitising our people. We told them that when it is raining, please don’t drop your waste in the streets or in the drainages. Don’t just throw waste into the river anyhow, and people are complying.
Apart from this sensitisation, we are engaging various stakeholders. We are talking with the local government people to ensure that people in their neighbourhoods clean their gutters and drainages. Not only that, there are jingles we have been doing to make people aware, so people are now more conscious of how they dispose their waste.
And again, we told people that are living by the riverside that if the rain continues for 30 to 40 minutes, they should leave the area and go upland before anything happens.
With the creation of the Bureau for Physical Planning, and Development Control, we have established that before you build your house now, you must comply with all the building codes, including to allow setback by the riverside. So, when you bring your building plan now, we will check to see that you have kept the approved setback. This is because we found out that many people build their houses on the flood plains, so when it rains it is a problem for them.
And we advise our people that are buying land not to buy land during dry season. The people who are selling the land know that it is muddy area, but during dry season you won’t know.
The three masterplans
The government went further in thinking of permanent solution to flood in Oyo State, Ibadan in particular. The government has now prepared three strategic masterplans. This is the first government to do such a thing. The life span of these plans is about 20 to 30 years. Why do we have these? Anything without a plan you cannot sustain. When we went to World Bank for assistance arising from 2011 flood crisis, one of the things we were told is that we must have approved standard masterplans.
The first one is the Ibadan City Masterplan. In the plan, there are areas designated for roads, markets, school and so on, to guide development. This is why we have the Ibadan City Masterplan.
The most important is the Ibadan Drainage Masterplan. This is one is about 70 per cent completed. Then, we have Ibadan Solid Waste Masterplan.
We have all these masterplans so that anybody coming in will key in. So, whenever you are building your house you know where to direct your drainage and so on. You will know from these plans. Before the approval of your building plan, it must conform to the masterplan.
Dam issues
One of the causes of 2011 floods was the fault that happened at Eleyele dam; one of the embankments fell off. We have started rebuilding it. Don’t forget that that dam was built around 70 years ago. We are not only rebuilding it, but increasing the heights of the buckets so it can contain larger volume of water. It will be easier then to contain rainwater that may come unexpectedly.
The safety net
We have also thought if a flood happens, we have an IDP camp at Akanran built by National Emergency Agency (NEMA). We have put mattresses there. The Secretary General, Oyo State Emergency Management Agency, is in charge. But I know by the grace of God, no flood will happen.
and then