The Ogun State government has told residents at the riverbank and wetland areas to prepare for overflow of the Ogun River in the next two weeks.

The affected areas are, Akute, Alagbole, Isheri, Magboro,Makogi, Orimerunmu, Iro, Kajola and parts of Abeokuta specifically Lafenwa, Enugada, Adedotun, Iberekodo, Akin-Olugbade, and Ago-Odo.

According to the latest flood alert released on Monday by the state Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, the overflow from Ogun River would rise as a result of controlled release of water from Oyan Dam due to heavy rainfall from up-north that would increase the volume of water, reaching the Dam from that part of the country which would be compounded by increase in tidal level.

He said the increase in the water flow into the dam would inevitably force the release of water from the dam that would affect the areas.

Oresanya urged residents of the areas to exercise caution and avoid loss of lives and  property within the period.

He further emphasised the need for residents of the areas to avoid the riverbank while those in the wetlands should move to higher grounds or elevate their stay for now as the overflow becomes inevitable.

He added that as part of the mitigating plans, the state government had continuously dredged and opened up more tributaries for Ogun River to ease the pressure of the overflow on residents  in collaboration with the Ogun Osun River Basin Authority.

Oresanya equally noted that at this period last year, the volume of water released from the dam was over 17,000 million litres per day as against over 12,000 million litres per day at this period despite the heavy rainfall signaling painstaking efforts at controlled release of water from the dam this year.

He therefore enjoined residents of the areas not to panic as the tide will go down in about ten days.