The Oyo State Emergency Management Agency has issued a flood warning for three local government areas in Ibadan, urging residents in vulnerable locations to take urgent precautions.
The affected LGAs include Akinyele, Egbeda, and Oluyole, where heavy rainfall is expected within the next 24 hours, according to the agency’s advisory released on Friday.
Speaking on behalf of the agency, Mrs. Ojuolape Busari, OYSEMA’s Administrative Secretary, said the alert is based on updated forecasts from the Flood Early Warning System, which predicts rainfall exceeding 100mm in parts of the city.
“The warning is necessary to enable residents and local authorities in the affected communities to prepare adequately and take proactive steps to reduce the risk of flooding,” Busari said.
She noted that the heaviest downpour is anticipated in the north-eastern areas of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Akinyele and around the Ibadan Airport in Egbeda. Similarly, communities near the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) in Oluyole LGA are also expected to experience significant rainfall.
“Flash floods may occur in streets and low-lying areas, potentially making some roads impassable and endangering lives and property,” she added.
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Mrs. Busari emphasized the dangers of attempting to drive or walk through flooded roads, advising, “Turn around, don’t drown.”
She further urged residents of flood-prone areas to stay alert and be ready to relocate to safer ground if necessary.
“If you live in a flood-risk zone, be prepared to move to higher ground if instructed,” she warned.
The Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, also endorsed the advisory in an e-signed statement, calling on the public to heed official guidance.
