FLOOD WREAKS HAVOC IN ONDO COMMUNITIES, DESTROYS PROPERTIES (PHOTOS)
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By: Sefiu Ajape
A severe flood has devastated Okitipupa, the headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area in Ondo State, following three straight days of intense rainfall.
Major roads and streets in the area have been completely submerged, leaving residents stranded and disrupting daily life.
The continuous downpour has displaced many families, rendered some homeless, and paralyzed commercial activities, with properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
Residents say several key areas in the town’s commercial district—Erinje, Ogungbo Junction, and Ode Etikan—were worst hit, while nearby communities such as Ereke, Ayetitun, and Temidire were also partially flooded.
The situation has led to traffic gridlock and restricted movement in the area.
A resident, Akin Mogbojuri, revealed that even the residence of the Local Government Chairman, Andrew Ogunsakin, was not spared by the floodwaters.
Another resident, Barrister Wale Omolegbon Odusola, who posted a video online showing the scale of the damage, blamed the flooding on blocked waterways and the absence of proper drainage infrastructure on major roads.
Speaking with our reporter by phone, Adeleye Ibukun said his home had been completely submerged, making it impossible for him to enter his compound.
According to Ibukun, “The flood was caused by poor water channeling and construction of buildings on drainage rights-of-way. It’s devastating. We can’t access the roads. Everywhere is flooded, and people cannot get to their homes. Most houses were built without proper drainage systems. It’s a sad situation.”
Similarly, another resident, Awoyemi Ige, lamented that his house was also submerged due to the absence of a functional drainage system in the new housing estate where he resides.
“I can’t access my house. Even people with cars are stranded. I have to rely on commercial motorcycles because the road leading to my house is cut off from the main road due to the flood,” he said.
“We are pleading with the Ondo State Government to come to our rescue. I live in a new site without drainage, which has caused water to flow into residential homes, rendering many of us homeless.”
Speaking on the development, the chairman of the council, Andrew Ogunsakin, confirmed the flooding incident and assured residents of government intervention.
“The secretary of the local government has visited the affected areas. We are making efforts to ensure an adequate response, and the root cause of the flooding will be addressed soon,” he said.
It will be recalled that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had earlier predicted heavy rainfall and strong winds in Ondo and 30 other states this month.
In response, the state government has begun clearing waterways and cracking down on illegal structures obstructing natural water channels to prevent further flooding.
The Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Laja Olumide, disclosed that three amphibious excavators have been deployed to critical flood-prone zones in the northern, central, and southern senatorial districts as part of the state’s emergency flood response.
He said, “The excavators are now actively working, and our mandate is clear. These machines must run concurrently to ease water flow and prevent erosion from wreaking havoc.”
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