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21 hours ago
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By: Akinkunle Ogunsiji
For months, residents and workers in Moniya, especially those living off Moniya-Iseyin Road, have faced severe flooding caused by the overflowing Odo Oba River.
The river, situated close to International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), has been overflowing with every significant rainfall, disrupting daily activities, damaging infrastructure, and causing economic losses.
The flooding which makes affected roads impassable, halts transportation and forces businesses to shut down temporarily. Workers, particularly those at IITA, find themselves unable to access their workplace. The situation is dire, especially for the institute’s agricultural operations, where the floods have destroyed vital rice paddies and disrupted research activities crucial to regional food production.
Local authorities have made efforts to control the flooding by placing sand-filled bags along eroded sections of the riverbank. However, these measures have proved insufficient as parts of the road continue to erode, leading to concerns that the road—an important route linking Ibadan to the Northern Nigeria—could collapse at any time.
Mrs Saferat Waheed, a resident said: “The flood was never this much and devastating. The trouble started when the expressway was fixed and the excess water which passed through four different parts to avoid flood was then concentrated into one single part causing the river to overflow during rainfall thereby leading to massive flooding of the area and landmass at large.”
Residents are pleading with the Oyo State Government to urgently intervene. “We’ve tried to channel the river with sandbags, but it’s not enough,” said the resident.
“The government tried to fix the road before, but the rain made it impossible. We’re begging them to please help us find a solution to this predicament.”
The flood’s impact extends beyond road closures. At IITA, the damage to rice paddies has not only disrupted agricultural research but also threatened food security in the region. Farmers and researchers alike are raising alarms about the growing environmental and economic impact, which will worsen if no action is taken. The stagnant floodwaters also raise health concerns, as they create breeding grounds for mosquitoes, exacerbating the risk of disease outbreaks in the area.
Residents are calling for a permanent flood control solution and the immediate repair and reinforcement of the road and bridge. Additionally, they urge the government to clear the Odo Oba River’s channel to prevent future overflows and provide support for affected farmers and workers.
As the rainy season continues, Moniya residents remain on edge, hoping the government will act swiftly to prevent further devastation.
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