The Ondo State Government has cautioned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways, warning that such practices could worsen flooding across the state.
Mr. Elisha Ebijimi, Special Adviser (Technical) to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa on Erosion Control and Related Matters, gave the warning on Wednesday during the ongoing channelisation of the canal at Ijapo Extension in Akure South Local Government Area.
Several communities in the area, including Atibiti 2 Layout, Otenioro Layout and the Anglican community, have been repeatedly affected by floods that destroyed property and disrupted livelihoods.
Ebijimi said the government’s intervention was in line with the governor’s directive to prioritise field-based solutions to environmental challenges across the state.
He said, “In 2024, we worked in Ilaje, Ese-Odo, Odigbo, Ile-Oluji and Ondo Town in Ondo East Local Government Area. Today, we are in Akure South and will move to Oba-Ile in Akure North in the coming weeks.
“This waterway was originally two meters deep and 15 meters wide, but we are expanding it to four meters deep and 25 meters wide. We will not relent in our efforts on flood control across the 18 local government areas of Ondo State. But we appeal to residents to desist from dumping refuse in waterways so that we can avert calamities associated with flooding.”
The project, which stated in 2024, is expected to bring relief to flood-prone communities across the state.
Residents of Ijapo Extension have expressed gratitude to the government, noting that the intervention was long overdue.
Mr. Ahmed Oluwadare, a landlord in the area, commended the administration for responding to their pleas after years of flooding that had forced some residents to abandon or sell their homes.
“We have been yearning for this intervention for over 10 years. Houses and vehicles have been destroyed by floods in the past. Today, we thank Governor Aiyedatiwa for listening to us. This will go a long way in alleviating our suffering,” he said.
He also urged the state to set up environmental vanguards to help safeguard waterways, noting that landlords’ associations had been sensitising residents on proper waste disposal.
Another resident, Alhaja Hassan Bamidele, described the flooding problem as a recurring nightmare for over five years and called for lasting solutions.
Similarly, Mr. Oladipo Eliyode, a landlord at Ijapo Extension, expressed confidence that the dredging of the canal would significantly reduce the risks.
“We have battled flooding for years, but with this new expansion, I believe it will serve us well for at least five years because the canal is now much wider than before,” he said.
The state government reiterated its commitment to sustaining flood control measures across Ondo, while urging residents to cooperate by keeping waterways clean.
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