IBADAN/Nigeria: The EnviroNews Advocacy & Campaigns for Sustainability, a non-governmental organization (NGO), has issued a fervent plea to residents of Ibadan, Oyo State, urging them to prevent the looming threat of another flood disaster in the city. The call comes amidst alarming reports of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the Ogunpa channel, a practice that poses grave risks to the city and the state at large.
During a poignant campaign tour on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, the NGO, represented by its executive director, Michael Simire, and head of legal department, Yomi Ogunlola, expressed profound concern over the escalating degradation of the Ogunpa River channelization into a waste repository. Highlighting the perilous implications, Simire emphasized the urgent need to avert a recurrence of historical flood calamities that have plagued the city since the 1960s, citing incidents in 1960, 1963, 1978, 1980, and 2011.
Simire, addressing the issue during a visit to Tribune Newspapers, stated, “We are deeply concerned about the Ogunpa channelization issue. We set out today (Tuesday) to do some campaigns; to advocate and talk to the leaders and the people.” He further elucidated their efforts to engage with key stakeholders, including government officials, media outlets, and local communities, to raise awareness and garner support for remedial action.
In a poignant revelation, Simire shared insights garnered from discussions with market women, acknowledging their predicament in the absence of proper waste disposal infrastructure. “We suggested to them that they can, as a group, collaborate with the waste management authority, local government, or waste management consultants,” Simire remarked, highlighting the imperative of collaborative efforts to address the root causes of the crisis.
In a petition addressed to Oyo State governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, the NGO implored the state government to intervene decisively to curtail the illegal dumping of refuse in the Ogunpa River channel. The petition underscored the necessity of implementing robust measures to forestall the recurrence of such environmental disasters in the future, safeguarding lives and preserving invaluable assets.
The advocacy efforts of the EnviroNews NGO underscore the collective responsibility in safeguarding environmental integrity and promoting sustainable practices, resonating a clarion call for concerted action to avert impending catastrophe and foster a resilient future for Ibadan and Oyo State.
