Town planners in Ogun State have warned residents and builders against violating planning regulations, saying adherence to setbacks and building codes remains the most effective way to prevent flooding in the state.
The experts spoke on Tuesday at a press conference in Abeokuta to herald the 40th anniversary of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, NITP, Ogun State chapter.
Chairman of the chapter, Tpl. Olusola Odukoya, who addressed journalists alongside Vice Chairman, Tpl. Wakeel Solabi, Assistant General Secretary, Tpl. Joel Ogunmefun, and Auditor, Tpl. Ganiyu Elesin, blamed recurring flooding in parts of Abeokuta and other towns on building on water channels and dumping of waste in drainages.
Odukoya recalled that areas like Oke-Yeke and others experienced flooding because channels were blocked by illegal structures, stressing that water will always find its way when its natural path is obstructed.
He said the state now has stronger regulatory backing with an updated Urban and Regional Planning Law and four additional regulations, plus a building code, the first of its kind in the state, to ensure a livable environment.
According to him, the regulations stipulate setbacks to water bodies, including 100 metres away from Ogun River and a minimum of 12 metres from other streams and seasonal water channels, to allow free flow of water.
“They are setbacks to water bodies that you’re not supposed to build alone. Once you keep this setback, it gives an opportunity for these water bodies to move freely. And whenever you see a flood plain and people build on it, that is when you experience flooding. Water will always find its way, you like it or not.
“But once people don’t listen and they’re advised that don’t build yet, but because of demand or their greed or their position that they want to live in a particular place, they go ahead and do their own interest instead of what the planning body had advised against. And that had actually caused flooding in the state.
“I want to implore people not to build on the setbacks of this water body. According to the regulation, every particular water body has its setback. For example, the Ogun River, you are supposed to keep a hundred meters away from the Ogun River as a setback. From other streams, seasonal or existing streams, you’re supposed to keep a minimum of 12 meters away from the stream.
“This will allow the continuous flow of this water body at any time, so that there will not be blockage and eventually there will not be flooding,” he said.
Odukoya also cautioned residents against dumping refuse in drainages, noting that waste blocks water channels and causes flooding downstream.
“Also, environmentally, the people of the state are part of the people causing this flooding because they block drainages by pouring dirty and other things into the drainage system. The environmental ministry have created ways to move dirt so they should stop pouring their dirty into water bodies. They should not pour it into the drainages in the front of the house when it is raining. Those dirty block water bodies along the line,” he added.
On building assessment, Odukoya said structures in the state are placed according to land use zoning, but called for better collaboration among professionals in the built environment, including engineers and architects.
He disclosed that the anniversary, themed, ‘NITP Ogun @ 40: Honouring the Past: Designing the Future,’ commenced with media engagements and will climax on Thursday with the Annual General Meeting and Health Talk on Kidney.
Follow planning rules to avert flood – Ogun town planners warn residents, builders