By Sunday Oyinloye
Nigeria’s Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu has given the assurance that the Federal Government will find permanent solution to the perennial flooding in Isheri, Agboyi and other communities along the borderline between Lagos and Ogun States.
Dr. Edu made this known when she visited Isheri and Agboyi Ketu, the two communities majorly affected by the recent flooding in the two states. 33,000 people are directly affected by the flood.
A Press Release made available to Green Savannah Diplomatic Cable by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Minister, Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair quoted Dr.Edu as saying that buffer Dams required to empty the Oyan Overflow River will be built by the relevant Federal Government ministry and agency in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
At Isheri, where the community’s monarch and village heads came out en mass to receive her, Edu, assured them of continuous engagement intervention until the problem was solved permanently.
“I bring greetings from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is deeply concerned and has directed me to visit this place to provide immediate relief materials for families affected while we take decisive action to revive the livelihood and small businesses affected by the flood.” She said
The Minister who delivered food and non-food relief materials to the traditional rulers and representatives of Ogun and Lagos state governments, pleaded with victims of the natural disaster to be patient with the Federal Government as it works with the state to provide a permanent solution to the perennial flooding.
At Agboyi Ketu in Lagos, the Minister inspected the affected areas alongside the House of Representatives member representing Kosofe Federal constituency, Hon.Kafila Ogbara.
Dr. Edu, decked in a reflective jacket, navigated the affected areas with a canoe, including Agboyi-Ketu, Owode Onirin, Isheri, Ajegunle, Agiliti, Kara, Majidun, all in Kosofe local government area, and Agboyi Ketu Local Council Development Area respectively
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Government is interested in supporting those who lost their businesses to the flood.
According to her, President Tinubu has rolled out many new and existing social intervention programs, including Conditional Cash Transfers, Traders Monies, End Hunger Program, and others to tackle Humanitarian and poverty challenges facing vulnerable Nigerians.
“The President is very much aware of this flood challenge and has promised to bring a permanent solution to this reoccurring problem. We are well aware that beyond these palliatives, what you desire is a permanent solution to this perennial flooding and I will communicate your message to the Federal Executive Council.
“I want to assure you that talks are ongoing for the construction of buffer Dams to tackle this challenge and when next I’m here, it will be to join other Ministers and Government officials to commission some of the projects that will permanently check flooding in this area”
