Residents of Irese community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Saturday, cried out to the state government to assist them in cushioning the effect of the excessive flood that continues to submerge the access road to the agrarian community.

The residents, who lamented how the flood had taken over the road, said the only ‘tarred road’ to the town had been in deplorable condition for years and gradually impassable due to the rainy season.

They explained that the community had been suffering deep potholes which had developed over the years, adding that cars, especially goods-laden vehicles, could not ply easily on the road without breaking down.

Peoples Gazette learnt that the potholes-ridden road, which has been in a poor state, also links Irese and Aaye communities to Ijare town – both in Ifedore LGA of the state.

While lamenting the predicament of residents of the community, the Olu of Irese town, Ahmed Saka, expressed worries over the danger of plying the road during the rainy season because it is always flooded.

Mr Saka said the excessive flood had brought untold hardship to the community, noting that goods and property worth millions of naira had been lost to the flood, which entered into residents’ homes and shops.

According to him, the excessive flooding in the community, especially during the rainy season had hindered development with many residents shutting down their local businesses and leaving the town.

While blaming the deplorable condition of the major access road into the town for the constant flooding, the Irese traditional ruler said vehicle owners in the town and commuters spend unquantifiable man-hours anytime the road is submerged by the flood.

He, however, appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the community by helping to fix the road and channel the water properly to avoid the constant flooding of the only access road to the town.

“Although, we appreciate the state government for the ongoing construction from Akure to Irese road. It’s a kind gesture and welcome development by our people.

“But we are pleading that the same gesture should be extended to Irese and Aaye town in Ifedore because this is the only road that links both Ifedore and Akure South LGAs together,” the monarch added.

He said, “And in doing this, this issue of flood taking over the major road of the community would stop and residents would finally heave a sigh of relief without any fear of their house, shops or businesses being submerged.”

During a visit to the community, the acting governor of the state, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said the government would urgently intervene by dredging some of the areas that have blocked the waterways, thereby causing the flood to submerge the access road.

Mr Aiyedatiwa, however, pleaded with the residents of the community to exercise patience with the state government in finding a last solution to perennial flooding.