As a result of the heavy rainfall which had led to flooding and destruction of private and public infrastructures as well as the loss of lives, Oyo State government has taken its sensitisation campaign to the Oke-Ogun area of the State.
About 75 per cent of charcoal production in Oyo State is from the Oke-Ogun area. The produced charcoal is either for export or domestic use but its production has a direct effect on the environment, as trees are felled to produce charcoal.
The State government over the weekend, organised an awareness campaign program to call the attention of residents of the area to the effects of deforestation due to felling of woods for industrial purpose, saying the government was poised to do all it can, to reduce risks caused by these commercial activities.
The State’s Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan who disclosed this at the one-day sensitisation program at Saki, Saki West Local Government Area, said the present administration has been factoring disaster risk reduction into its developmental strides, so as to curb the loss of lives and properties to natural disaster.
“To forestall the calamitous effects of climate change, the present welfarist government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde has been factoring disaster risk reduction into its developmental strides, today’s program is a clear manifestation of our administration’s avowed commitment to disaster risk reduction through proactive measures.
“Our investment in non-structural measures like this are meant to complement our administration’s huge investment in physical infrastructure that will all combine to reduce the disaster risk that the good people of Oyo State are exposed to and also better their lots with improved social services delivery in the areas of health, education and social amenities.
“As we all know, disaster is an ill wind that blows no one any good, to forestall it, let us make safety our watchword, safety consciousness is a culture we have to imbibe, it should start from the individual to the family and to the community level, prevention is cheaper, better and easier than cure, therefore all hands must be on deck to checkmate the hazardous effect of climate before it trigger disaster.”
The deputy governor who was represented by the Secretary, Oyo State Emergency Agency; Alhaji Luqmon Aransi urged the people of Oke-ogun to imbibe the culture of safety and work together alongside the state government to avert disaster.
