Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, says the Federal Government will find a permanent solution to the perennial flooding in Isheri, Agboyi-Ketu and other communities along the border between Lagos and Ogun states.
Edu gave the assurance when she visited Isheri and Agboyi-Ketu, the two communities mostly affected by the recent flooding in both states.
NEMA said already, 33,000 people have been directly affected as a result of the recent flooding in Isheri communities alone in Ogun and Lagos states.
According to her, buffer dams required to empty the Oyan dam overflow will be built by the relevant federal ministries, departments, and agencies.
At Isheri, where the community’s monarch and village heads came out en mass to receive her, Edu assured them of continuous engagement intervention until the problem is solved permanently.
“I bring greetings from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is deeply concerned and has directed me to visit this place to provide immediate relief materials for families affected while we take decisive action to revive the livelihood and small business affected by the flood,” she said.
The minister delivered food and non-food relief materials to the traditional rulers and representatives of Ogun and Lagos state governments, and pleaded with victims of the natural disaster to be patient with the federal government as it works with the state to provide a permanent solution to the perennial flooding.
At Agboyi Ketu in Lagos, Edu was conducted around the affected areas by the House of Representatives member representing Kosofe Federal constituency, Hon. Kafila Ogbara.
Dr. Edu, decked in a reflective jacket, navigated the affected areas with canoe, including Agboyi-Ketu, Owode Onirin, Isheri, Ajegunle, Agiliti, Kara, Majidun, all in Kosofe local government area, and Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Area respectively, assured the victims of immediate humanitarian response.
“We are here to assess the extent of the damage caused by the recent flooding in Agboyi-Ketu, Owode Onirin, Isheri, Ajegunle, Agiliti, Kara, Majidun, all in Kosofe and Ketu Agboyi local council areas and to also present food and nonfood items as a form of humanitarian assistance and response.
“We are well aware that beyond these palliatives, what you desire is a permanent solution to this perennial flooding and I shall communicate your message to the Federal Executive council.
“I want to assure you that talks are ongoing about the construction of buffer Dams to tackle this challenge and when next I am here it will be to join other ministers and government officials to commission some of these projects that will help to permanently end this problem”
