Residents living in flood-prone areas in Ogun State have been warned by the state government to relocate to the upland temporarily, as heavy rains will soon begin.
This warning is coming on the heels of the prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency that some states, including Ogun, would experience heavy flooding from September.
No fewer than 40 communities in 10 local government areas across the state were listed as places that would be affected in view of prediction on impending flood disaster.
The 40 communities that are said to be at risk are located in these 10 Local Government Areas of the state namely Abeokuta South, Ifo, Obafemi Owode, Abeokuta North, Sagamu, Ado-Odo/Ota, Yewa South, Ogun Waterside, Ogun East and Ijebu Ode.
The Commissioner for Environment, Abiodun Abudu-Balogun, at a press briefing in Abeokuta on Monday, advised residents of the 40 communities to relocate temporarily to safer places as a proactive measure to mitigate disaster.
The commissioner said it was important to protect lives and property of the citizens and residents of the state.
“Whether they are living on illegal structures or not, we shall continue to make sure that government protects them. That is not to say those structures will not go. Those structures will give way,” he said.