Towards stemming the tide of flooding, which recently ravaged a part of the state capital, Osogbo, the Osun State Government has moved to dredge further areas prone to flooding as its machines continued work on Wednesday.
 

At the sight of the machines, which moved to site again, residents applauded the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, on his proactive steps to save the state from flood disasters.
 
The Project contractor, Engineer Tope Awodiji, led a team on the dredging work.
 
Awodiji assured the residents of proper clearing of all the waterways in the state, adding that the machines had been strategically deployed to achieve the goal.
 
Awosiji listed areas such as Gbonmi, Alie Agbede, Fiwasaye, Obatede, Old Garage, Alekunwodo and Ita-Olokan, all in Osogbo, as areas of focus for the dredging at the state capital.
 
He said: “As we all aware since 2011, the present government has being dredging waterways in different areas across the state to prevent flooding and other natural disasters.
 
“We have started again to ensure that all our waterways, drainages and canal systems are cleared just as heavy machineries have been deployed in various areas of the state to ease the flow of water.”
 
Awosiji cautioned the people of the state against what he called indiscriminate dumping of wastes, adding that the nature and character of the waste excavated showed that residents need more education on their waste disposal culture.
 
When asked about the sustainability of the exercise, Awosiji promised that it would go a long way to prevent the flood as it was aimed at facilitating free flow of water.
 
Some of the residents who expressed satisfaction over the dredging, said widening the waterways would definitely ensure permanent prevention of ecological challenges in the state.
Some of the residents of Alie Agbede Oke-Baale axis of Osogbo – Oladimeji Adenle, Oyewola Olowookere,
 
Muhammad Musbau and Adegoke Fadilulahi – commended the state government for embarking on the clearing projects.
 
According to Fadilullahi: “Governor Aregbesola has been so wonderful to citizens as his government has been successfully prioritizing our welfare as citizens.
 
“Every individual would attest to it that this government has tried in flood control since inception.
 
“Take for instance, since the recent flooding, the government has been working round the clock to avoid a future recurrence.”

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Osun Emergency Management Agency (OSEMA) are working to provide relief materials to victims of flood disaster in the state.
 

 
Mr Olanipekun Olanrewaju, the General Manager, OSEMA on Thursday in Osogbo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the agency in collaboration with NEMA is working to bring succour to victims.
Olanrewaju said that OSEMA, which is saddled with the responsibility of providing relief materials to victims of disaster, had already sent official report to NEMA, through its Zonal Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.
He said with the assistance of the state government and NEMA, OSEMA would provide relief materials to victims of the flood disaster soon.
The general manager, however, said there were procedures to follow for the distribution of relief materials.
He explained that victims of the flood have to formally request and present their case to the agency with photographs of their property that were damaged during the disaster attached.
Olanrewaju said without making request and providing photographs evidence of the affected or damaged property, it would be difficult for the agency to determine who to assist or provide with relief materials.

He reiterated what Gov. Rauf Aregbesola said, that the flood was caused by indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the waterways and water channels by residents.
According to him, the disaster should have been avoided, if people of the state dispose their wastes properly.
He said the state government was embarking on dredging and re-channelling of blocked waterways, canals and rivers in the state.
Olanrewaju said that structures along or on the waterways, obstructing free flow of water would all be demolished soon.
He said OSEMA had been sensitising the people of the state to the dangers of blocking rivers and waterways with refuse.
The general manager equally called on residents to change their habit and attitude, urging them to stop dumping refuse into the waterways and drains.
NAN recalls that five communities were flooded on Sept. 13 in Osogbo, while a middle-aged man was reported to have lost his life in the flood incident, after his vehicle was drowned in a river.

The Osun Government said on Wednesday that it was giving free tetanus vaccination to nursing mothers in the state in order to prevent infection.

Dr Akinyinka Esho, Permanent Secretary, Osun Ministry of Health, announced this in Osogbo through a statement.

Esho said in the statement that the vaccination was meant for all nursing mothers from ages 15 to 49.

He said that the vaccination was free of charge and would be given to nursing mothers in the 15 local government areas of the state.

The permanent secretary urged women of child bearing age to visit the nearest health facility to receive the tetanus vaccination.

He commended Gov. Rauf Aregbesola for providing the necessary logistics and facilities to ensure healthy living for all residents of the state.

He further said that the exercise which started on Monday, would end on Sunday.

Respite appeared to have come the way of the people of Ibokun, Obokun Local Government of Osun State, following the deployment of an Armoured Personnel Carrier to secure the town.
The deployment of the vehicle followed its facilitation and renovation by the House of Assembly member representing the area, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye.
The area has been under security threats since the armed robbery attack at Wema Bank, the only bank in the area, on December 15, 2015.
Two persons lost their lives, others were injured and large sum of money carted away.
The incident rendered the bank incapacitated from doing business since that time with economic activities in the areas affected.

To restore order and ensure that the bank re-open for business, Oyintiloye, with the approval of Governor Rauf Aregbesola, facilitated and finance the renovation of the vehicle.
There was jubilation in the ancient town, as residents trooped out at the weekend to receive the vehicle, which was led to Ibokun by the lawmaker and security operatives.
Oba’bokun of Ibokunland, Oba Festus Awogboro, hailed the efforts of the government and the lawmaker towards ensuring security of lives and property.
He lamented that the residents of Ibokun and its environ have been experiencing hardship in transacting banking business since the armed robbery attack.
He said the provision of the armoured vehicle has brought succour.
The Yeye Mojumu of Ibokun, Chief Adenike Dunsin and the Iyaloja of Ibokun, Chief Adeyemo Ramat said the provision of the armour vehicle was the exact need of the people for their economic growth.
Handing over the armoured vehicle to the District Police Officer in charge of the town, Durodola Taofeeq, Oyintiloye said the reopening of the bank would revive the commercial and economic activities of the town.

The Chairman, Committee on Information and Strategy at Osun State House of Assembly, Hon Olatunbosun Oyintiloye has begged Nigerians to be patient with All Progressive Congress (APC) led governments at federal and state levels, over the current economic challenges ravaging the nation.
Speaking with newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State capital at the weekend, Oyintiloye who represents Obokun State constituency expressed optimism that the nation would overcome the current economic recession and bounce back stronger.
 

 
He noted that it was understandable that the economic situation in the country has taken tolls on virtually every Nigerian.
Oyintiloye said that the efforts to turn things around should inspire hope and courage in the people.
He noted that the legislative arm is aware of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s economic strategies that would eventually make Nigeria better.
Oyintiloye commended the people of Osun State for their perseverance and patience in the face of economic crunch and pleaded that more patience and sacrifice are required.
“It is understandable that Nigerians are going through very hard time, owing to the poor economic situation and this has been causing a lot of pains.
“These pains cannot be unconnected with depreciation in the price of Naira, drop in the oil prices, scarcity of money in circulation and the corruption that had affected all the fabrics of our economy which the present government is now struggling to fight.
“On the other hand, it is understandable that the government led by President Buhari is working hard to turn things around”, he said.

Osun State government has appealed to the federal government to quicken the release of ecological funds to states to curb environmental disaster across the country.
The Osun state consultants on Urban Planning, Environment and Sanitation Hon. Bola Ilori made the call during his monitoring visit to Rasco bridge in Osogbo where dredging of water ways is going on.
 

 
Ilori blamed the recent flooding in parts of the state capital on massive and uncoordinated release of water from Asa Dam in Kwara State with direct consequence on Owala Dam that opened its gate for eventual flood that ravaged the town.

“The state was really shocked at the flooding that happened earlier in the week, we did not expect such level of flooding considering the efforts that had been put into dredging in the past five years.
“A critical study of the situation showed that the main cause of the problem was the uncoordinated release of water from Asa Dam in Kwara State that subsequently forced Owala Dam to open its gates which laid the foundation for the eventual flood that our people witnessed.”
“We have applied for the ecological funds and it is on record that Osun state has not earned 10kobo on ecological fund in the last five to six years since Governor Rauf Aregbesola came on board, yet we have dredged over 270 kilometres of waterway carting out 4.3 million metric tons of sand and debris in the last six years.” He said
He stated that since year 2010 up to 2014, the state has been dredging the waterways but mid-2015 the dredging became a victim of financial situation.
He further disclosed that Osun have expended 2.8 billion on dredging of waterways over the period of five years, but last year till this year it has not really dredged anything because of the financial challenges in the state.
“And even out of the 2.8 billion we are still owing, over 35% of the money, we have not been able to pay all the money, that is looking at the issue of flood and erosion control on the Ministry of Environment side, apart from what Ministry of works have done in terms of concreting some waterways. The state has serious ecological challenges that deserve urgent support from the federal government”. He said
According to Ilori, the revenue mobilisation commission had upon evaluation of the state’s ecological situation recommended 12 billion Naira for Osun September last year, but nothing has been released  and if the money has been released  the government would be able to pay their outstanding commitment and would be able to really line some of its waterways with concrete.

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has said that his administration did not receive ecological fund from Federal Government in last five years.
 

 
This is contained in a statement by Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Media aide to the governor in Osogbo on Thursday.
Aregbesola, said the demand by the state chapter of PDP that government should justify how it spent ecological funds in the wake of the flood that affected some parts of the state was uncalled for.

“Osun did not receive any ecological fund from the PDP Federal Government from Nov. 27, 2010 to May 29, 2015.
“We have expended our legitimate revenues from all sources to annually dredge our waterways up till 2015 when revenue decline hindered our efforts.
“Despite the dirty politics played by the PDP government at the centre, Osun remained one of the few states that had never experienced any flooding since 2011 not until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday, Sept. 13.
“We are concerned with the agony of our citizens and shall do all in our power to limit the pains and prevent a reoccurrence.

“We are committed to eliminating all hindrances to free flow of water in the canals, drainages and waterways in the state”.
Aregbesola, while calling on the people of the state to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse, urged them to always patronise registered waste collectors.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that flood wrecked havoc in some part of the state on Tuesday, Sept. 13, during which property worth million of naira were destroyed

A Non-Governmental Organisation, Refuge of Life Foundation, has donated 1,000 books to Osun State Library Board.
Receiving the books on behalf of the State Government of Osun, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mr Sunday Festus Olajide, thanked the non-governmental organisation for donating the books and for the efforts being made in promoting reading culture among youths.
 

 
The Permanent Secretary stressed that promotion of functional education is one of the pillars of the Six-Point Integral Action Plan of the present administration in the state and noted that despite the lean purse of the state, the state Government has managed the state library resourcefully and skilfully.
He noted that there are four inter-related skills to be acquired in language. These include reading, writing, speaking and listening out of which reading culture is essential and must be resuscitated because of its prime role in research and acquisition of knowledge.
He then thanked the donors who are youths for their contribution to the state library thereby giving this generation of youths and the next hope for the future.
Also speaking, the state Librarian, State of Osun Library Board, Mrs Adefunke Kolawole also commended the non-governmental organisation who are made up of young people and are ready to mobilise their resources and energy for the development of youths in the state.
She then enjoined all other youths and philanthropists to emulate the good example by donating more books to the state library, pointing out that the state Government cannot do it alone.
The State Librarian also enjoined youths to cultivate reading culture so that they can acquire necessary knowledge for self development and societal growth.
Also speaking, the founder of the Non-Governmental Organisation, Mr. Bolarinwa Olabode said he is motivated to contribute his quota to youth development so that young boys and girls can form and develop the culture of reading and acquire necessary knowledge for self development believing that there is strength in knowledge