Oyo State government has warned residents about anticipated heavy rainfall across the state in the coming days. The alert was issued Wednesday by the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Ademola Aderinto, through a statement released in Ibadan. He attributed the advisory to the gradual onset of the rainy season, with Ibadan forecasted to experience intense downpours shortly. While the commissioner clarified that no major flooding is expected in critical areas, he urged residents to prepare and take precautionary steps.
Aderinto emphasized that the notice is strictly a heavy rainfall advisory, not a flood warning, and advised against spreading panic. He urged the public, especially workers with distant workplaces, to plan travel to arrive before rainfall begins and avoid being stranded. Residents were also advised to secure windows and doors before leaving homes or offices during the downpour. "The advisory only indicates that some locations may experience heavy rainfall, and residents should remain calm while taking necessary safety measures," he said.
Issuing a weather advisory is not the same as preventing disaster. Hon. Ademola Aderinto's warning may calm nerves, but it does nothing to fix Oyo's long-standing drainage failures or urban planning flaws. If heavy rain still causes panic, it is because past governments treated seasonal forecasts as surprises. This alert changes nothing on the ground.
