Flooding Strands Motorists on Benin-Ore Expressway

On Thursday, flooding submerged a section of the Benin-Ore-Ijebu Ode Expressway in the Ore corridor of Odigbo Local Government Area, Ondo State, stranding commuters and motorists for several hours. Areas including Ondo town, Odigbo, Irele, Ode-Aye, and Igbokoda also experienced flooding due to a prolonged downpour, leading to significant property damage, although no lives were lost.

A resident named Segun reported severe traffic congestion on the expressway, prompting some motorists to take the longer Okitipupa-Omotosho route. Driver Joshua Oladele described the situation as traumatic and called for urgent government intervention.

Residents of affected communities urged the state government to address the recurring flooding issues. In response, Mr.

Tob Loko, the state Commissioner for Environment, expressed regret and outlined plans for urgent action, including deploying amphibious excavators for emergency clearing and channelization. He emphasized the government's commitment to addressing the flooding challenges through coordinated efforts.