By Damilola Kushimo
The Baale of Oke Ogbere community in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), High Chief Tajudeen Amoo Orilowo has appealed to state and local governments to support their effort by constructing drains to channel ways for the impending flood in the community.
Oke Ogbere, being a swampy area that forms part of Okota in Isolo LCDA, has continued to witness perennial flood without help from the government to complement the residents efforts geared towards averting the flood in the community.
According to the monarch, since the construction of a dual carriageway link bridge in the community last December By De-Prinocc Construction Company, making the community an alternative route to other neighbouring communities like Ijegun, Ejigbo, Jakande, Ikotun and Okota, the need to step up efforts in creating a lasting solution to flooding and other challenges of the community became more important.
Orilowo recalled that some residents and stakeholders have individually and collectively made efforts to clear gutters and the one-sided drainage channel that directs water from the community to the canal and also grade the broad road on several occasions for ease of vehicular movement.
He specifically mentioned one Mr. Friday Abaja, a hotelier, who recently extended his business to the community, building a new hotel and interlocking the community road to where his new hotel is situated.
His words: “We are making an appeal, once again, to the government at all levels and even our lawmakers representing us at the federal and state Houses of Assembly, Hon. (Engr.) Ganiyu Johnson and Hon. Jude Idimogu, to come to our aid by complementing our efforts to develop Oke-Ogbere community further.”
“Between the last rainy season and this time, as residents of the community, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to avert the negative effects of this year’s rain by clearing our gutter, drainage and others before Mr. Friday Abaja helped interlock the Community Road from the entrance to where his new hotel is situated to consolidate our efforts.
“The CEO of De-Prinocc Construction Company, Prince Yommy Ogungbe, has also been helpful in grading the Community Road to make it motorable, but we need government to help construct drainage at the other side of the road and take up its construction from where it stopped. This will bring about permanent solution to the flood in our community on yearly basis and also increase the pace of development in the community.”
