Three days of heavy rain submerged homes and displaced residents across Okitipupa communities in Ondo.
Flooded streets, damaged properties, and blocked drains have left locals calling for urgent government action.
Several residents of Okitipupa in Ondo State have been rendered homeless after a three-day downpour led to severe flooding in the area, submerging houses and disrupting daily activities.
The affected communities are within the Okitipupa Local Government Area, where the continuous rainfall left a trail of destruction, damaging properties and forcing many to evacuate their homes. Among the worst-hit areas are Erinje, Omawa, Kuneyin, Apata, Igbodigo, and Ayeka locations known to lack adequate drainage infrastructure.
When visited on Saturday, some residents told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the flooding had not only destroyed their properties but also halted commercial and social activities, as movement became nearly impossible.
A resident of Erinje, Mr. Ganiyu Akinfenwa, lamented that flooding had been a recurring issue in the area due to the absence of proper drainage systems.
“This is not the first time we’re experiencing this. For years, we’ve been begging the government to come to our aid. Without proper drainages, every time it rains heavily, water just gathers and invades our homes,” Akinfenwa said.
In Apata, Mrs. Tosin Akindolire described how the rainfall overwhelmed her neighborhood. She explained that plastic waste and nylon bags had clogged the existing drainage channels, preventing proper water flow and causing water to spill into homes.
“Our houses were literally turned into ponds. People had to use buckets to scoop water out all night. It was a terrible experience,” she said.
Akindolire also joined in calling on local authorities to clear the drains and initiate long-term solutions.
Similarly, Catherine Ebisemiju, who lives in Omawa, said many residents were trapped indoors during the heavy downpour as roads became impassable. She noted that the floodwaters had disrupted business operations and daily routines.
“We couldn’t even open our shops. For three days, movement was completely grounded. The flood took over everything,” Ebisemiju said.
Another affected resident, Mr. Michael Orogbemi of Igbodigo, blamed the flooding partly on ongoing road construction projects in the area. According to him, the drainage systems being constructed were either incomplete or improperly managed, which contributed to the overflow during the rainstorm.
“The ongoing road and drainage works are supposed to help, but right now, they’re worsening the problem. Water flows out of the new drainages into our compounds,” he explained.
Orogbemi appealed to the state and local government to fast-track the completion of the road projects to prevent further damage during future rains.
In response to the widespread complaints, Chairman of Okitipupa Local Government, Mr. Andrew Ogunsakin, confirmed that the council was aware of the flooding incidents. He disclosed that the council secretary had already visited the affected locations to assess the situation firsthand.
“We’ve seen the damage caused by the flooding, and we are taking urgent steps to intervene. The government is committed to reducing the impact of future floods and ensuring such devastation does not reoccur,” Ogunsakin assured.
He also urged residents to desist from dumping refuse in gutters and water channels to prevent blockages that often aggravate flooding.
With the rainy season still ongoing, the residents of Okitipupa continue to hope for quick and lasting solutions to their long-standing drainage problems.
