Flood Engulfs Ibadan, Residents Lament (PHOTOS)

Ibadan, the capital city of Oyo State, was thrown into chaos on Tuesday evening, following a heavy downpour which caused widespread flooding in the Iwo Road area of the town.

The flood which started in Ibadan due to rain quickly rose to alarming levels, engulfing road users, businesses and vehicles.

Those in the affected areas were seen struggling to salvage their belongings and find safe havens as the floodwaters continued to rise.

While many passengers were stranded by the roadside, transporters also parked their vehicles due to the depth of the water.

In response to the disaster, a transporter recognised as Abass, while speaking to a reporter of EKO HOT BLOG, said the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) around the environment should be held responsible for blocking the drainage system of Iwo Road with trash and other forms of waste.

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He lamented that, on several occasions, he has witnessed these sets of people use the drainage as a toilet, refuse ground and garbage park.

Also, a trader, Olatunji Adewunmi, questioned the functionality of the Oyo State Waste Management Authority (OYOWMA), stating that they have never been to the area to caution those who violate the usage of the drainage.

“We’ve never seen the government agency in charge of waste at all in this environment. They never show up to salvage the situation of things. All of these have caused this issue of flooding around the environment today,” he said.

Adewunmi also blamed traders who sell corn within the confines of the environment, highlighting that they pack their trash in sacks, before dumping them into the drainage.

He, therefore, called on the state government to take necessary actions to stop perpetrators.

Narrating his ordeal, a transporter, Wakili Azeez, said that the government has not done enough to manage the drainage within the environment. He noted that there was still a need to link more drainage within the Iwo Road area.

He further lamented that the flooding had caused serious damage to his car, sighting references to other vehicles which were parked within the scene, due to the flooding disaster.

In the meantime, residents are calling for urgent action to address the situation, with many expressing frustration and anger at the lack of preparedness and response from the authorities.