Flood prevention: IUFMP Begins Measures to Mitigate Flood Disaster

……..As IUFMP introduce Early warning signs equipment for flood disaster

From Ogundele Olanrewaju

In order mitigate the effect of flooding in Ibadan and it environ, Ibadan urban flood management project has put proactive measures in place by installing early warning system and installation of automated weather station in five locations within for the people of Ibadan to take action and ensure they are not victims of the flooding about to occur.

This was stated by the project coordinator Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, Olasunkanmi Sokeye while addressing newsmen at the stakeholders engagement on Ibadan flood forecast, Early warning service and implementation support of Ibadan urban flood management project (IUFMP) held at the international conference, University of Ibadan.

Sokeye said the imperative of the engagement is to sensitize the people of Ibadan on the gadgets of early warning signs of flood purchased by Oyo state government to avert incident of flood in Ibadan.

He revealed that “The project is basically concern the mitigating flooding in ibadan.

“And one of the measure we are taking in mitigating is the installation of ‘Early Warning Systems’ like the name has indicated, early warning has to do with warning people early enough for them to take actions to ensure that they are not victims of flooding which is about to occur”.

Sokeye further revealed that ibadan urban flood management project which is under the state government ready to installed automated gauges in eleven locations which would be install rivers within Ibadan metropolis where channels of flow to monitor and measure the rise of water when it rains inoder to alert stations.

Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, Coordinator further added that “We are installing what we know as ‘Automated Weather Station’ in five locations within Ibadan”.

He further mentioned the location are: Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Idi- Ayunre, Nigeria Institute of Horticulture (NIHORT), Kings College international, Ministry of Environment and Ibadan Airport”.

“Apart from this we are installing ‘Automated Gauges’ in eleven locations within Ibadan, the gauges would be install in the river where the channels of water flows so that it will monitor and measure the rise of water when rains is falling and be able alert stations.

“So it will be under bridges and culverts in eleven locations within Ibadan.

“Apart from this we are going to have ‘Sirens’ in various locations within Ibadan, this would be the main warning outlet for people this as the part of system that is in close contact with the people who would be affected by flooding.

Sokeye advised the people of Ibadan and its environ to desist from dumping solid waste in rivers and streams as well as building houses along the flood place of rivers.

He urged the people of Ibadan to “80% of flooding in Ibadan is caused by two factors, dumping of Solid waste in rivers and streams in ibadan as well as the propensity of people to develop houses to build houses along the flood place of the rivers, am using this opportunity to beg people, please stop dumping of waste in the river, when we dump waste in the rivers, this waste take-up the space in which water does not see space to flow and it move into places where space suppose to flow and averted inside people houses and properties.

Sokeye further advised that “People should follow town planning guide and regulations when building, don’t build on flood place of rivers, people should restrict themselves in making development outside of this zone.

In his address, the technical project consultant, Murali Krishna said that early warning signal is an ideal solution equipment which use solar power for it efficacy.

Krishna explained that “This early warning signal is one of the best technology which is first time in Nigeria.

He continued that “The early warning signal is to give people warning that the flood can happen in some suspected location that is one of the key advantage of the early warning signs.

Krishna added that “it is an ideal solution equipment which solar panel to power the equipment and also use telecommunications.

He concluded that “the sensitization has started before this time which we are also doing including training of those that will be operating the equipment.

The five locations to install the automated weather station are: Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Nigeria Institute of Horticulture (NIHORT), Ministry of Environment, Kings College and Ibadan Airport.