Motion Moved By: Sen. Olalere Kamorudeen Oyewumi, Ph.D
(Osun West Senatorial District) On July 25th, 2023
The Senate:
Notes that, the forecast of NIMET predicted that the level of rainfall in 2023 will be greater than that of 2022 and that over 180 local Government Areas in 32 States (including Osun state) fall within the high flood risk.
Also note that in the last 20 years, the Ikire-Apomu and Gbongan communities have never experienced these kind of erosion that ravaged the communities, due to a heavy rainfall between Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd July, 2023.
Further note that Ibadan-Ife Express road passes through Ikoyi-Apomu-Ikire and Gbongan towns. The tributaries of many steams from these towns, enters the Osun River at Asejire dam thereby making the area marshy and waterlogged always.
Aware that the said Ibadan-Ife Express road re construction has been awarded to KOPEK Construction Company since 2019.
However, the speed of work on the road is not encouraging.
Concern that, the heavy flood in these towns has destroyed properties worth several Million of Naira, many households have been displaced and motorists along the road were stranded for a whole day!
Further concerned that, if the spate of this flooding is not immediately checked, when the rainfall really starts in September to November this year, it could lead to unimaginable damages, to lives and properties. The road which is the 2nd busiest road in South West Nigeria (after Lagos-Ibadan road) may also become impassable.
Accordingly resolve to:
I. Urge the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately direct the contractor handling Ibadan-Ife road to, as a matter of urgency, proceed to the portion affected by the flood at Ikire to avert further damages and allow free flow of traffic.
II. Urge the Ecology office and/ or FERMA to equally assist in the channelization of other affected areas in Ikire, Ikoyi, Apomu and Gbongan communities.
III. Further urge the National emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to quickly send relief materials to the affected victims in Ikire, Apomu, Ikoyi and Gbogan, all in Osun West Senatorial District of Osun State.