Ogun-Osun basin authority links deforestation and waste dumping to flood risks
The head of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority has urged residents, communities and governments to stop deforestation and prevent refuse from entering drainage channels and waterways. Speaking during a World Rivers Day event in Abeokuta, Dr Adedeji Ashiru warned that blockages and environmental degradation could intensify flooding and contribute to loss of life.
The Managing Director of the Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority, Dr Adedeji Ashiru, has called for an end to deforestation and indiscriminate waste disposal, warning that both practices could worsen flooding and cause deaths. Ashiru spoke on Monday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a tree-planting exercise and public awareness roadshow held to mark the 2026 World Rivers Day. The event was organised around the theme “No Forest, No Rivers, No Water, No Life.” He said unpredictable and heavier rainfall, alongside flooding in communities, reflected the effects of global warming and climate change.
Ashiru said environmental protection should therefore be treated as a shared responsibility involving individuals, communities and government agencies. The authority’s chief executive said environmental degradation was not caused only by industries or official bodies. He said everyday activities, including dumping refuse into neighbourhood drains, could have consequences far beyond the immediate location.
According to Ashiru, rainwater can carry waste from local drainage channels into rivers, where it may cause blockages and contribute to flooding. He urged residents to dispose of waste responsibly and protect trees, rivers and waterways. Ashiru said the tree planted at the event symbolised the authority’s commitment to environmental protection and was intended to reinforce the need to halt deforestation.
He also asked residents to share the campaign’s message in their neighbourhoods. Ogun State Commissioner for Environment Ola Oresanya, represented by Kayode Akinwade, criticised the practice of blocking waterways with refuse. He said trees planted along riverbanks could strengthen embankments, helping to check erosion and flooding.
Prof Victoria Ojo of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, said forest destruction threatened rivers, water supplies and public health. She identified blocked drains, siltation, uncontrolled damming and lost forest cover as factors that could create stagnant or slow-moving water favourable to disease transmission.
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