No fewer than 64 streams will be dredged while blocked drainages will be cleared across Oyo State.
The state government made this known on Thursday while it warned the people of the state to desist from dumping refuse into rivers, streams and water channels.
According to the government, offenders would be treated in accordance with the provision of the environmental laws and regulations of the state.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Chief Isaac Ishola, on Thursday said that government had taken proactive steps to prevent flooding in the state, noting that the citizens needed to complement government’s efforts by restraining from activities that could block channels.
Ishola said the state government had continuously sensitised the public on environmental sanitation, stating that that was in addition to the expansion of some rivers in the state for free flow of water and dredging of some rivers.
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The commissioner explained that in line with the safeguard requirement of Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) sub projects, the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) safeguard team would be displaying Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for dredging of streams and clearing of blocked drains in order to sensitise the general public on the social and environmental impact of the project.
He noted that the ESMP action was also to mitigate if the need arose, the negative impact of the project as stipulated by the guidelines of World Bank Projects.
Ishola stated that there would be updates on Environment and Social Impact Assessment for Eleyele Dam rehabilitation, saying that that was to ensure the project was in line with best practices without any hazard to the society.
He disclosed that the 64 streams to be dredged were within the eleven Local Councils and their Local Council Development Areas in Ibadan, assuring that the dredging would commence immediately the disclosure and display of Environmental Social Management Plan was completed.
