Edo State Government has announced plans to demolish buildings and other structures erected on waterways and designated flood channels as part of efforts to reduce the impact of flooding across the state.The government also revealed that it has commenced the compilation of names of residents affected by recent flooding to facilitate relief and intervention measures.
The Executive Secretary of the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (EDOSEMA), Jerry Idahosa, disclosed this during a media briefing in Benin City on Monday.According to Idahosa, investigations by the agency revealed that several buildings had been constructed on sections of the historic Benin moat, while indiscriminate refuse disposal had blocked numerous drainage channels, increasing the state’s vulnerability to flooding. He added that internally displaced persons’ camps have already been prepared to accommodate residents in the event of severe flooding.
The EDOSEMA boss identified Illushi in Esan South-East Local Government Area, as well as Etsako Central and Etsako East local government areas, as communities likely to experience significant flooding during the rainy season.
He further disclosed that the agency has received records of about 1,000 farmers whose farmlands were destroyed by floods, in addition to 57 residents affected by flooding in Igarra.Idahosa said residents living in flood-prone communities have been advised to relocate to safer and elevated locations as part of the government’s preventive disaster management strategy.He explained that blocked drainage systems caused by indiscriminate waste disposal remain one of the major factors contributing to flooding across the state. To address the challenge, the agency is collaborating with the Ministry of Environment and the Edo State Waste Management Board to enforce stricter sanctions against offenders.
The agency is also working with the Ministry of Physical Planning to identify buildings erected on the Benin moat and other designated waterways. According to Idahosa, such structures will be marked and demolished because the affected areas are legally reserved as natural flood channels.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) have consistently warned that Edo is among the states expected to experience increased flooding during the current rainy season.
In response to these forecasts, the Edo State Government has intensified public awareness campaigns, strengthened evacuation plans, and continued clearing drainage systems in a bid to minimise the effects of potential flooding and protect vulnerable communities.
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