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**Headline: “Okitipupa Residents Face Devastation as Flooding Strikes”**
Residents of Okitipupa, in Ondo State, are grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding, which has displaced many and submerged homes after three days of relentless rain.
A recent visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to the affected regions on Saturday revealed extensive property damage and a significant number of homeless individuals. The most impacted areas include the Okitipupa-Erinje axis, Omawa, Kuneyin, Apata, Igbodigo, and Ayeka, all of which lack adequate drainage systems.
Locals expressed their concerns to NAN, highlighting the disruption of daily life as many homes were inundated, hindering commercial activities and preventing residents from attending to their businesses.
They have called upon the Okitipupa Local Government to clear blocked drains and initiate the construction of necessary drainage systems.
Resident Mr Ganiyu Akinfenwa noted the community’s long-standing struggle with flooding due to inadequate drainage infrastructure.
“We have consistently sought government assistance to establish drainage systems to mitigate erosion during heavy downpours like the one we’ve just experienced,” he stated.
Another resident, Mr Tosin Akindolire from Apata, reported severe flooding, with many houses submerged and residents forced to bail water from their homes.
“The drainages were obstructed by plastics, causing water to overflow into our houses,” he explained, urging the government to address the blocked drainage issues.
Mrs Catherine Ebisemiju, from Omawa, shared her concerns, stating that the flood had disrupted numerous businesses as residents were unable to venture outside due to the torrential rainfall.
Chief Michael Orogbemi from Igbodigo highlighted that ongoing road construction has exacerbated the flooding situation, with water overflowing from newly constructed drainage systems.
“The current roadworks and drainage construction are impacting us severely as water spills into our homes,” he remarked, urging the government to expedite the construction process.
Mr Andrew Ogunsakin, the local government chairman, confirmed the flooding and informed that the council secretary had visited the affected areas. He assured residents of prompt governmental intervention to tackle the flooding situation in Okitipupa and surrounding areas.
“We have assessed the affected locations, and I can promise residents that we will act swiftly to prevent further flooding throughout Okitipupa and its vicinity,” Ogunsakin stated.