The governments of Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti States have launched comprehensive flood mapping and mitigation efforts as part of a region-wide strategy to prepare for the heavy rains forecasted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
In Ondo State, officials are deploying data-driven methods to identify and address flood-prone areas. Commissioner for Environment, Tob Loko, speaking in Akure, said the goal was to not only mark vulnerable zones but also assess the environmental and infrastructural causes behind recurring floods.
“We are not just identifying flood-prone zones; we are investigating the factors that make these areas vulnerable. Emergency relief measures, including relocation and support materials, are also in place for any communities that might be affected,” Loko stated.
He emphasized the state’s preventive approach and urged residents, particularly those in high-risk communities, to cooperate with government personnel during assessments and interventions.
Olumide Kinga, the Administrative Secretary at the Ministry, said ongoing mechanical channelisation efforts had intensified this year, with three amphibious excavators working continuously across the three senatorial districts.
“We’ve written to all 18 local government chairmen, requesting detailed drainage data to improve flood control within a week,” Kinga added.
In Osun State, government officials say they’ve made considerable headway in flood prevention. General Manager of the Osun Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA), Deola Oni, revealed that three swamp buggies have been deployed to dredge and widen waterways, notably along the Osun River and areas like Gbonmi and Ita-Olookan in Osogbo.
“The swamp buggies are a game-changer. They operate permanently across our waterways, improving the flow of water and reducing flood risk,” Oni said. “We’re also committed to public sensitisation and quick emergency response, including providing relief to affected residents.”
Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Mayowa Adejoorin, highlighted Governor Ademola Adeleke’s early approval of a state-wide channel-clearing initiative beginning November 2024, citing NiMet’s forecast of potential flooding in riverine areas.
“Thanks to proactive measures, Osun has not recorded any flooding this year, despite heavy rainfall,” he noted.
According to Adejoorin, Osun has also undertaken demolition of illegal structures obstructing waterways, reinforced its public sensitisation campaigns, and constructed concrete barriers along cleared waterways to ensure long-term flood mitigation.
Meanwhile, in Ekiti State, the government is aggressively tackling flood threats through structural enforcement and public engagement.
Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye revealed that the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning has begun marking illegal buildings constructed along waterways for demolition. The action follows NiMet’s 2025 flood prediction, which identifies Ekiti as a potential hotspot.
“Our 2024 and 2025 experiences of severe flooding, thunder, and fire disasters make it imperative for all 16 local governments to act quickly,” Afuye said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is also partnering with Ekiti State to manage flood risks. Dr. Kofoworola Soleye, NEMA’s Head of Operations in the state, said the agency had issued public flood warnings and held a flood stakeholder engagement campaign through the National Disasters and Response Campaign (NPRC).
Tosin Ajisafe-Aluko, Ekiti’s Commissioner for Environment, noted that the state’s drainage systems are now routinely cleaned and monitored, while waste bins have been provided at key points to reduce refuse-related blockage of water channels.
“We are combining infrastructure with education to make sure residents know how waste mismanagement contributes to flooding,” she said.
Adesina Abogunrin, Head of the Search and Rescue Unit at NEMA’s Ado-Ekiti office, urged residents in high-risk areas to consider relocating to safer grounds as a preventive measure.
All three states are also engaging with local stakeholders, traditional rulers, and community-based organisations to reinforce grassroots-level flood prevention strategies, particularly as more heavy rains are expected across the Southwest in coming weeks.
