Flood wreaks havoc in Ogun community, students, residents count losses

Some students of the Federal Polytechnic and residents of Ilaro, Ogun State, were on Saturday, ravaged by flood.

The victims living at areas like Gbogidi, Double Crown, Odo Fufu and environs had their rooms flooded and belongings submerged, as the rain which started on Friday lasted until Saturday.

A bridge in the area was said to have also collapsed, leaving a vehicle trapped inside the canal.

As of Sunday morning, news correspondent learnt that those affected by the flood are still draining water out of their houses, even as tenants contemplate relocating to safer places.

Speaking on the collapsed bridge, an indigene of Ilaro, Gbenga Ekunola, said he had presented the matter to the Senator Representing Ogun West, Olamilekan Adeola.

“Senator Adeola immediately called his team to go to the said spot to assess the situation for immediate intervention,” he said.

Recall that the government has consistently listed Ilaro as one of the areas that could be flooded, with warnings that those in flood-prone areas should relocate.

Poly Rector asks students, staff to relocate

Meanwhile, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Dr Mukail Aremu has asked staff and students of the Institution to stay away from flood-prone areas.

Aremu gave the warning during an on-the-spot assessment of students-populated areas after the Friday and Saturday downpour.

While commiserating with those who lost valuables to the incident, the Rector charged the students to stop seeking accommodation in areas prone to flooding, such as Riverside, adding that “those who are presently in such areas should relocate to safer places.”

The Rector stated that the advice became imperative following alerts of impending heavy rainfall in the coming months as predicted by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He enjoined relevant government agencies in charge of emergency relief, at both Federal and State levels, to come to the rescue of the affected students and staff of the institution.