The Coordinator of the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), Mr. Olasunkanmi Sokeye, has announced a collaborative effort between the Oyo state government and the World Bank.
Their joint initiative involves the construction of seven bridges aimed at mitigating the issue of flooding within the state.
The project’s commencement is scheduled to follow the subsiding of rains, with November 5 as the anticipated start date.
Mr. Sokeye revealed these details during his speech at the Annual General Meeting of the Geoinformation Society of Nigeria (GEOSON), Oyo State Chapter in Ibadan.
He also mentioned that the project is expected to span a duration of six months.
These proposed bridges will target various critical areas, including Ago Tailor, Odo Ona; Oluyole, Rhema area; Akala Express, Agara Area; Odo Ona Kekere, Old Ijebu Road, Orogun, and Ona Ara, Ariyo area. Mr. Sokeye acknowledged that the construction process might result in temporary inconveniences for the affected communities and commuters who use these routes.
Nevertheless, he urged them to endure these short-term challenges, emphasizing that the long-term benefits would outweigh the inconveniences.
He also assured that alternative routes would be provided to alleviate the difficulties.
Mr. Sokeye went on to explain the primary factors contributing to flooding in Ibadan, attributing 70% of the flooding incidents to the indiscriminate dumping of solid waste in the river.
The second factor he highlighted was the haphazard development of flood plains, with people constructing houses right up to the river edges, which contradicts best practices.
The State Commissioner for Environment in Oyo State, Mr. Abdulmojeed Mogbojubola, underscored the importance of leveraging Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to address environmental issues.
He encouraged the younger generation to embrace this technology for tackling environmental challenges.
In their commitment to tackling environmental issues with technology, the state has acquired an Early Warning Instrument capable of predicting flooding and its severity.
However, the challenge of finding personnel with the required expertise remains.
Notably, both Mr. Sokeye and Mr. Mogbojubola were recognized and received awards at the event.
The Chairman of GEOSON, Oyo State Chapter, Chief Musa Adetoro, emphasized the significance of GIS in organizing, displaying, and interpreting spatial data for location intelligence.
He encouraged professionals, academics, and government officials to collaborate under the GEOSON umbrella to enhance their capacity and performance.
Furthermore, the GEOSON’s Innovation and Leadership Impact Award was presented to other deserving individuals, including Oyo State Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Lamidi Abiodun; Chief Executive Officer of Geotechnics Services Limited, Dr. Adediji Akanji, and former Surveyor General of the state, Mr. Olufemi Akintola.
