By Ola Ajayi,  IBADAN

ALMOST all the roads within Ibadan metropolis are impassable during and after rainfall as they would be flooded. Two heavy rains that fell recently caused serious havoc in some places like Awolowo Avenue, Bodija and Ogbere areas of the city.

Some cars and other valuables were washed away. It even led to loss of lives in some places. As residents at Foworogi and Ogbere areas of the city are lamenting, others at Sango, Ijokodo areas are blaming themselves for living there. But most observers blame the blocked drainages across the city.

Arising from this was fear of a possible flood disaster reminiscent of the one that occurred in 1980. But the Oyo State Government recently took steps to allay this fear when it embarked upon roads rehabilitation and construction in the state.

The roads, which included those constructed by the immediate past administration, are believed to be in a state of disrepair. While some say the roads are poorly constructed and are substandard, others say poor maintenance culture is largely responsible for the disrepair.

An expert, Adeyemi Adegoke Olawale, the Permanent Secretary, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency, OYSTROMA, said there are many causes of flood and road disrepair.

Blocking of channels

Speaking with Vanguard Metro, VM, he said road failure can be caused by blocking of channels which can cause erosion which consequently washes away tarred roads or create potholes on them. The situation, he said, is worsened when faulty or broken down vehicles are repaired on the road as corrosive lubricants are released on the road. Another causative factor is indiscriminate cutting of roads by people laying pipes and residents who erect road breakers.

Other causes, he said, include dropping of granites stones, sand and other building materials on the road without clearing them fully after use as well as overloaded trucks. One overloaded truck, he noted, causes a damage equivalent to that caused by 5,758 vehicles, according to studies.

*Residents look in shock at the destruction caused by the flood in Ibadan

“Unless we really have the political will to deal with these challenges our roads may continue to be in bad shape,” he said.

The engineer said that it was to correct all these anomalies that the new administration led by Senator Abiola Ajimobi has set the necessary machinery in motion. According to him, the Governor has in this respect already made some re-organisations to ensure that quality of roads are constructed and rehabilitated, better than what he met on ground.

“What we have in OYSTROMA are new phases with engineers that have been tested. Unlike in the past, things are wearing a new look. The routine and periodic maintenance of these roads started about two weeks ago when fund was released by the Governor.

This is the first phase and it will be completed next(this) week. Five roads will be our focus and they are Customs, Ikolaba, Government House, Gate, Yidi, Gbagi, Old Airport, Mokola, Queen Cinema, Oluyole Estate and Bodija roads”.

The second phase of the road maintenance and construction which will be done in the four major zones of Ibadan, Saki, Oyo, and Ogbomoso roads in the state will start this week.

Two flyovers, he said, would be constructed at Mokola and Challenge areas of the city. All these, he noted further, would be completed within six weeks.

He added that what the former administration did in Bodija was not construction of roads but beautification and construction of pedestrian paths.

Governor Ajimobi also informed residents of Ibadan that the process of tarring all roads in Oyo would definitely entail hurting those who may stand on his way to make the city beautiful.

He acknowledged that lack of political will was part of the problems that militate against sustainable roads in the state, saying that once he is able to make the generality of people who voted him into office happy, tackling those who work against the durability of the roads was a lesser task.

He said his vision of Oyo State was one where people commute on the roads without hitches and where vehicles seldom have shock absorber challenges.

He sought the cooperation and understanding of the citizens in his efforts at changing the state infrastructural landscape, stating that when the rains subside, the state would not only witness massive rehabilitation of roads but an unprecedented construction of roads in the state.

Gov. Ajimobi further assured that the era of constructing sub-standard roads that would not last was over.

…As residents count losses

Unfortunately, the efforts of the state government in this regard were not enough to ward of another flood disaster in Ibadan. In fact, residents of the Ibadan will not easily forget Friday August 26, 2011 as seven persons, including a new born baby died in a flood that ravaged the city after a heavy downpour. About 20 other individuals were reported missing.

While residents are still counting their losses and bemoaning their fate, a call has gone to the Federal Government to render prompt and adequate assistance to the victims of the flood.

The call was made by Senator Femi Lanlehin who is representing the Oyo South Senatorial district in the state.

Describing the flood disaster as a painful and unforgettable experience, he said: “The flood disaster that led to the sudden death of people in Ibadan and its environs on Friday brought much pain to me. It was agonizing seeing loved ones being swept away helplessly and properties acquired through hard work of many years damaged by the flood”.

For Mr. Lukman Toriola, the bitter memory of the flood would linger for decades in his consciousness. Though, he said he did not lose any of his relatives in the disaster, he stated all the ugly scenes where victims were being swept away without any help coming their way, would not be forgotten in a hurry.

He said the rain which they thought was a blessing later turned out to be a curse that nobody would wish for his worst enemies. According to him, he lost millions of naira to the flood as it swept away his shop located in the Ibadan North West Local Government of the state.

Condoling the victims of the disaster, the Action Congress of Nigeria,ACN, in the state in a statement signed by Mr. Matthew Oyedokun, the Publicity Secretary sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives and property in the incident, praying God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

To cushion the effects of the flood, the state government said efforts were being made to send relief materials to the victims.

The state Deputy Governor, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo and the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Bosun Oladele made this known while on the spot-assessment visit to the affected areas.

They said two relief camps have been arranged for over 200 displaced victims at Odo Ona and Apete.

They also hinted that the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 2 Div, Ibadan, had been contacted for the construction temporary bridges to provide succour for residents of Apete and Olomi/Academy areas of the city.

The disaster forced Governor Abiola Ajimobi who was on lesser hajj to cut short his pilgrimage.