As Japan commemorates the 30th anniversary of the Great Hanshin earthquake, a recent global forum highlighted Oyo State’s exemplary flood management project. At the Understanding Risk Global Forum in Himeji, Japan, I shared Oyo State’s experience in preventing flooding through the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP), facilitated by the World Bank.
The IUFMP has achieved an impressive 90% of its objectives, including:
– Reconstructing the Eleyele Dam, first built in 1942, with a capacity of 7 million cubic meters
– Completing 40 hydraulic structures
– Channelizing 29 km of rivers
– Dredging 455 km of waterways
– Developing three masterplans: Ibadan City Masterplan (2019), Ibadan Drainage and Flooding Management Master Plan (2019), and Ibadan Solid Waste Management Masterplan (2024)
– Implementing a fully automated Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS), a first in Sub-Saharan Africa
– Preparing an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) for Eleyele Dam and downstream
Under Governor Seyi Makinde’s leadership, the IUFMP has demonstrated effective disaster risk management and flood resilience. This project serves as a model for other regions, offering valuable lessons in flood protection and management.
The IUFMP’s success is a testament to the power of collaborative efforts in addressing flood risk management. As we move forward, it is essential to continue prioritizing disaster risk reduction and management to create safer and more resilient communities.