The Osun State Government has ordered an audit of flood-control infrastructure projects carried out across the state since 2020 and directed the establishment of an early-warning and community reporting system following recent flooding that affected more than 1,000 households.
The measures were contained in a series of directives issued by Governor Ademola Adeleke after an assessment of communities affected by the latest flooding across the state.
The governor also directed the development of an Osun State Flood and Stormwater Master Plan based on hydrological and hydraulic assessments of drainage catchments.
Several communities in Osogbo, the state capital, were among those badly affected by the flooding. Areas identified include Gbodofon, Ogooluwa, Omigade, Ijetu, Oke Arungbo, Baruwa and Isale Osun.
According to PUNCH, more than 700 buildings close to the Osun River in Ijetu, Isale Osun and Oke Osun were affected. Residential buildings, hotels, schools and business premises were among the structures impacted by the floodwaters.
In response, Adeleke directed the Ministries of Environment, Works, Water Resources, Lands and Physical Planning, Health, Agriculture and Local Government Affairs, alongside the Osun Waste Management Authority and Osun State Emergency Management Agency, to conduct a coordinated assessment of the affected communities.
Affected local governments are also expected to submit verified reports showing the locations of flood incidents, households affected, infrastructure damage and the immediate needs of residents.
The Osun State Emergency Management Agency was directed to coordinate emergency assistance and establish a verified register of affected households.
The Ministry of Works was also instructed to inspect damaged bridges, culverts and roads and introduce appropriate emergency safety measures.
At the same time, the Ministry of Environment and the Osun Waste Management Authority were directed to clear critical waterways, drainage channels and culvert entrances to improve water flow and reduce immediate flood risks.
Flood infrastructure audit
A major part of the new measures is the Flood Infrastructure Performance Audit, which will cover major flood-control interventions carried out in Osun from 2020 to date.
The audit is intended to provide an assessment of existing flood-control infrastructure and help the state identify areas requiring further intervention.
The government also plans to develop a Bridge and Culvert Hydraulic Safety Register to classify critical crossings according to structural and hydraulic risks.
The Ministry of Works is expected to strengthen enforcement against developments that obstruct waterways, drainage corridors and floodways.
Osun Flood Watch
The governor further directed the establishment of Osun Flood Watch, an integrated early-warning and community-reporting platform.
The system is expected to improve the state’s ability to receive information about flooding and provide earlier warnings to communities at risk.
The state will also develop a consolidated climate-risk and flood-incident intelligence report, with the Office of the Director-General and Special Envoy on Climate Change coordinating the process.
The government said the Flood and Stormwater Master Plan would provide a longer-term framework for managing flood risks across the state, using catchment-level hydrological and hydraulic assessments.
Agencies given reporting deadlines
All ministries, departments and agencies involved in the response have been directed to submit their initial implementation reports within 14 days.
A consolidated progress report is also expected to be submitted monthly for the remainder of the rainy season.
The measures follow a separate directive issued after the recent flooding in which the governor expressed concern over the impact of excessive rainfall on homes, businesses and livelihoods.
The state government had also warned residents against dumping refuse on waterways and constructing buildings on natural water channels and flood-prone corridors.
Meanwhile, the Osun State chapter of the All Progressives Congress expressed sympathy with residents affected by the flooding and called for assistance from the state and Federal Governments, religious organisations, civil society groups and other individuals and organisations.
The party also called for temporary relief for displaced residents and urged the National Emergency Management Agency to support affected communities.
It further called for stricter enforcement of planning regulations to prevent construction on waterways and other flood-prone locations.
The Osun State Government said the new measures are intended to move beyond immediate flood response towards a more permanent, data-driven approach to flood management and climate resilience.
