As a result of the heavy rainfall which had led to flooding and destruction of private and public infrastructures as well as loss of lives, Oyo State government has taken its sensitization campaign to the Oke-Ogun area of the State so as to stem the effects of global warming in the area.
About 75% of charcoal production in Oyo State were from Oke-Ogun area which were for export or domestic use but with direct effect on the climate, as trees were fell to produce charcoal.
The State government over the weekend, organized the 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 could, to reduce risks caused by these commercial activities.
The State’s Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan who disclosed this at the One Day Sensitization Program at Saki, Saki West Local Government, said the present administration has been factoring disaster risk reduction into her developmental strides, so as to curb 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 her 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 compliment 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 (OYSEMA), Alh. Luqmon Aransi urged the people of Oke-ogun to imbibe the culture of safety and work together alongside the state government to avert disaster.
Key speakers at the event included the Bagii of Saki, Chief Abdul-Rashid Adegoke, heads of local government administrations in the region, State health officers and security personnel.
They spoke on essence of security consciousness of residents, civil strive prevention and control, health hazard prevention and control as well as flood and fire hazards and their prevention and control.