The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu has assured that the Federal Government will find a permanent solution to the perennial flooding in Isheri, Agboyi and other communities, along the borderline between Lagos and Ogun States.
The Minister gave the assurance when she visited Isheri and Agboyi Ketu, the two communities majorly affected by the recent flooding in both states.
Already, 33,000 people have been directly affected as a result of the recent flooding in Isheri communities in Ogun and Lagos States.
Edu disclosed that buffer dams required to empty the Oyan overflow river will be built by the relevant Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
At Isheri, where the community’s monarch and village heads came out en masse 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 states to provide a permanent solution to the perennial flooding.
At Agboyi Ketu in Lagos State, the Minister inspected the affected areas alongside the House of Representatives member representing Kosofe Federal constituency, Kafila Ogbara.
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, assured the victims of immediate humanitarian response.
She maintained that the Federal Government was 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 programmes, including Conditional Cash Transfers, Traders Monies, End Hunger Program, to tackle humanitarian and poverty challenges facing vulnerable Nigerians.
“We are here to assess the extent of the damage caused by the recent flooding in Agboyi-Ketu, Owode Onirin, Isheri, Ajegunle, Agiliti, Kara, Majidun, all in Kosofe and Ketu Agboyi local council areas and to also present food and non-food items as a form of humanitarian assistance and response. It is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
“The President is deeply touched by this flood challenge and he 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 shall communicate your message to the Federal Executive Council.
“I want to assure you that talks are ongoing about 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 these projects that will help to permanently end this problem,” she promised.
