The Oyo State Government says it is set to establish the Oyo State Flood Management Agency as part of the present administration’s efforts to address cases of flooding across the state.
Governor Seyi Makinde, forwarding the Oyo State Flood Management Agency Bill, 2024, to the State House of Assembly for consideration, noted that the decision became necessary as the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) reaches its close.
The Bill was read for the first time at the floor of the House by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.
The bill reads: “This administration has observed the need to establish a permanent Agency to oversee and maintain a comprehensive flood management system across the entire state. This is because the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) will be ending soon.
“The Executive Council has considered the need to establish the Oyo State Flood Management Agency. It is important that we leverage the expertise and the already established infrastructure of the IUFMP.
“The new Agency will build upon the existing efforts of IUFMP, which has been working to develop a long-term flood risk management framework for Ibadan since 2014.
“This proactive approach will safeguard our communities and infrastructure from the devastating effects of flooding.“
Ogundoyin commended the Executive Council for coming up with the Bill which he noted was long overdue, considering the spate of flooding in cities across the state.
The Speaker said the fact that the new agency will now oversee the management of flood across Oyo State is commendable unlike the mandates of IUFMP which limits its activities and scope only to Ibadan.
Other lawmakers, in their contributions to the Bill, expressed happiness at the decision of the Executive Council to put in place a new agency to address flooding.
Oyenike Oyeniyi
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