Heavy rainfall on Saturday evening caused significant disruption along the Itanla section of the Ondo-Akure road, leading to a severe traffic snarl as motorists struggled to navigate through floodwaters.
The Hope observed that the downpour resulted in waterlogging that rendered the road partially impassable, forcing vehicles to slow down or detour, which in turn caused heavy congestion.
John Olawale, one of the affected motorists, described the situation as a warning sign of more severe disruptions to come as the rainy season progresses.
“This is just the beginning of the rainy season, and already a few hours of rain have caused this chaos. Imagine what will happen when the rains become heavier and more frequent,” he said.
Another commuter, Kunle Ogunniyi, blamed the flooding on the inadequate drainage system in the area and called for urgent government intervention.
“The problem is drainage. You can see the water has nowhere to go. If the drains were properly constructed and widened, there would be no flooding here.
“This kind of negligence eventually leads to road collapse, and then the government will have to spend millions of taxpayers’ money on repairs that could have been prevented.”
Similarly, Akintunde Kola, a frequent user of the road, criticised the construction company responsible for maintenance, accusing it of ignoring persistent issues.
“The company comes around every year to fix one thing or another, but this flooding problem keeps recurring. They know this stretch needs proper drainage, yet nothing is done to solve it permanently.”
Motorists along the route noted that flooding has become a major and recurring issue, particularly during rainfall, and called for lasting solutions.
“We are appealing to the government to take proactive steps to tackle the flooding problem. We need sustainable infrastructure like efficient drainage systems, and complementary measures such as improved land-use planning and early warning systems,” one road user stated.
Meanwhile, residents of the Italurowo community in Ondo have also urged the state government to adopt comprehensive strategies to mitigate flooding and its damaging effects. Suggestions include constructing drainage systems in key locations and clearing blocked channels.
The General Chairman of the community, Elder Johnson Taiwo Adeyaile, commended the government for the river channelisation project executed last year.
“As a community, we appreciate the project. It was long overdue, and we thank the government for its timely intervention,” he said.
However, Adeyaile also urged both the government and residents to continue taking precautionary measures to prevent future disasters.
Echoing this, another resident, Moses Fadoju, noted that while the channelisation widened the river, the absence of embankments on both sides poses a lingering threat.
“If proper embankments are not put in place, the flood might worsen the situation. We urge the government to expedite work on this project to prevent further damage in Itanla and surrounding areas,” Fadoju added.
In Okeodunwa, along Jordan Street, a resident, Emmanuel Ojo, described the recent flooding as a distressing experience.
“Yesterday’s rain overwhelmed houses and roads. We are pleading with the government and elected officials to help embank the river to allow water flow freely,” he said.
Another resident, whose shop was affected by the flood, lamented the hardship caused by the recurring issue and pointed out that an abandoned bridge project connecting the main town with Oka was worsening the situation.
“The flood has narrowed the main road. If the government doesn’t act fast, we could be completely cut off,” she warned.
