Ogun urges residents to relocate over flood threat

The Ogun State Government has issued a flood alert, warning residents of riverine and coastal communities across the state to relocate to safer areas between the last week of September and the second week of October to avoid the dangers of heavy flooding.

Communities along the Ogun, Ilo, Iju, Owa, and Yemule Rivers—including Isheri, Warewa, Akute, parts of Abeokuta, Ayetoro, Itele, and Iju—as well as coastline areas such as Makun, Oni, Iwopin, Igele, Ifaara in Ogun Waterside, Ebute-Imobi in Ijebu East, Tungeji Island, and Agosasa in Ipokia Local Government Area, are expected to be most affected.

The warning was contained in the 2025 Ogun State Midterm Flood Alert Press Statement released on Sunday by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Ola Oresanya.

According to him, the flooding is expected to result from a combination of factors: overflow of rivers, sea water rise, tidal lock, heavy rainfall, inflows from the northern part of the country and Benin Republic, and possible water release from the Oyan Dam.

The overflow, which usually lasts for two weeks, is part of the second phase of flooding that occurs every year between September and November,” Oresanya said.

Citing projections from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Oresanya disclosed that September will witness the highest rainfall with 204mm, followed by October with 190mm, before a decline to 93mm in November.

To mitigate the impact, he assured residents that the State Emergency Management Agency  is on red alert for emergency evacuation and relocation to temporary camps. He added that the Ministry of Environment is working closely with the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority to manage water releases from Oyan Dam.

The commissioner also cautioned residents in flood-prone areas against using boreholes and wells during this period, warning that water sources are likely to be contaminated.

Fish farmers across the state were advised to urgently harvest their stock to prevent losses, particularly those farming along floodplains in Eriwe, Yemule (Ijebu-Ode), Ilase, and Ayegbami in Yewa.

“Fish farmers must not delay in harvesting to avert their investments being washed away. Likewise, residents should avoid consumption of contaminated water as tidal variations will worsen water quality,” he warned.

Oresanya thanked residents for cooperating with the government on environmental issues, noting that such cooperation in the past six years had helped reduce flooding and its impact statewide.

He pledged the government’s continued commitment to safeguarding lives and property.