In the wake of the flood disaster that ravaged some communities in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State on Tuesday, the state government has commenced the dredging of major waterways in the state capital.

According to the consultant to the state government on urban planning, environment and sanitation, Bola Ilori, the dredging is being done to open up closed waterways in the state to avoid a recurrence of the incident.

One life, and property worth several millions of Naira were lost to the flood which was one of the worst in the history of Osun state.

To avert a recurrence in future, the state government swung into action by embarking on dredging to widen the water channels in the state.

Honourable Ilori said the state government was mapping out strategies to address ecological challenges in the state.

However, it appears residents of the state are not in tune with dredging of the waterways alone, as they believe a long term and sustainable effort were the solution to the flood issue.

The Osun State Governor had after the flood promised to intensify efforts to ensure that waterways were cleared.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola and his Deputy, Mrs Titilayo Tomori-Laoye, made the promise on Wednesday evening when they visited some of the areas affected by the flood to commiserate with them.

Addressing reporters at the Cac Oke Igbala DCC Headquarters in Gbonmi area of Osogbo, Governor Aregbesola said his administration was deeply sorry for the loss of life and property of the people.

He said the state government had cleared waterways earlier before flood warning was issued.

While the dredging is ongoing, sanitation exercise is also going on in Ile Ife, as the traditional monarch, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Launched the “Sweep Ile-Ife Clean Initiative”.

Tagged “Gba Femo”, the initiative is aimed at discouraging indiscriminate dumping of refuse on waterways across the ancient town, something the flooding that occurred on Tuesday had been linked with.

The Ooni said refuse dumps would be provided to all streets in Ile-ife.

He told reporters that trucks would also be provided to take the refuse daily to a dump site to ensure the environment was made clean to avoid natural disasters.

The Sweep Ife Clean initiative of the Ooni of Ife has provided employment for 200 youths who are to be used as ‎mangers in the scheme to ensure compliance by the people.