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The Oyo state government, through the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project ( IUFMP) , with support from World Bank, has assured that all hands are on deck to arrest incidents of flooding in the state, especially in Ibadan.
The assurance came just as heavy downpour last Friday and Monday caused some flood disasters in some parts of the state.
Apart from flood management projects put in place, the IUFMP, on Tuesday gathered journalists from media houses in the state to discuss ways by which the media could be used to reach out to more people on the need and strategies of flood control, management and prevention.
Tuesday was the opening of a three day workshop held at the Plaza De Haruna , Oyo.
The state Commissioner of Information and Culture, and Finance and Budget , Mr Toye Arulogun and Mr. Abimbola Adekanmbi respectively who were present at a
In his paper on the role of the media in mitigating flood risks , delivered at the three day workshop , the Commissioner for Information , Mr Toye Arulogun sought for synergy between the government and media in mitigating flood risks in the city.
Arulogun cited the groundbreaking work on the City Masterplan , the Flood Risk Management and Drainage Master plan , and the Solid Waste Management Master plan as part of government strategies to mitigate flooding in the city.
The state Commissioner for Finance and Budget , Mr Abimbola Adekanmbi, as represented at the workshop by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Musa Olawoye. The Health minister stated that the IUFMP was part of the state government’s strategy in finding a long lasting solution to the longstanding probkem of flooding in Ibadan.
“It is gratifying that the project is already delivering masterpiece civil works across Ibadan , many more will soon commence . Complimentarily too, the project , acting hand in hand with the relevant MDAs , is leading the charge of addressing the human and hydrological causes of flooding in the city, such as indiscriminate waste disposal , erection of building on waterways , blockage of rivers with silts as well as dysfunctional dams, ” the Commissioner said.
The resource persons who spoke at the opening session of the workshop include Dr. Adeyinka Laninhun, and Mr Bolaji Oladepo advocated for synergy between the media and the IUFMP.