The Chairman of the Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon. Barr. Fakunle Okieimen, has cautioned against the continued indiscriminate felling of trees, describing environmental conservation as a critical component of efforts to mitigate the impact of climate-related disasters.
Okieimen gave the warning on Wednesday while declaring open a public hearing on the recurring incidence of rainstorm disasters in the state, held at the hallowed chamber of the Ekiti State House of Assembly.
She said the hearing was convened in response to the increasing frequency and severity of rainstorms, which have destroyed homes, commercial buildings and public infrastructure, displaced residents and disrupted socio-economic activities in several communities across the state.
The public hearing brought together government officials, environmental experts, emergency management agencies, traditional institutions, health professionals and other stakeholders to deliberate on practical strategies for addressing rainstorm-related disasters and strengthening the state's resilience to climate change.
Identifying Ayebode, Ijero and Igbemo, among other communities, as areas that had suffered significant losses from recent rainstorms, the lawmaker said the disturbing trend required urgent legislative attention.
According to her, the hearing was designed to harvest stakeholders' inputs on practical measures to prevent and mitigate rainstorm disasters, flooding, building collapse and other environmental hazards.
Okieimen noted that beyond the destruction of physical assets, the disasters had imposed enormous financial and emotional burdens on affected families and communities.
She urged participants to submit practical recommendations that would strengthen environmental management, improve erosion control, expand drainage infrastructure, promote sustained public enlightenment and encourage tree planting as a climate resilience strategy.
The committee chairman assured participants that all memoranda and recommendations presented at the hearing would receive due legislative consideration with a view to strengthening relevant policies and enacting appropriate laws.
He recalled that Governor Oyebanji, shortly after assuming office, constituted a committee to identify flood-prone areas across the state, adding that its recommendations had informed the ongoing dredging, desilting and excavation of waterways in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti South-West, Ikole and Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Areas.
Olatunbosun said the government had also intensified public sensitisation against indiscriminate refuse disposal, blockage of drainage channels and illegal construction on waterways.
According to him, the state has strengthened collaboration with relevant agencies on weather monitoring and early warning systems, established emergency response mechanisms for vulnerable communities and commenced geographical mapping to enhance disaster preparedness.
The Commissioner reaffirmed the Oyebanji administration's commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urged residents to comply with environmental regulations and support government efforts to build a safer and more resilient environment.
Delivering the keynote address, renowned meteorologist, Pastor Abere Idowu, described climate change as one of the defining global challenges of the 21st century, noting that although rainfall could not be prevented, its devastating consequences could be significantly minimised through proper planning, effective urban development and sound environmental management.
He identified climate change, poor urban planning, blocked drainage channels and environmental degradation as the major factors responsible for recurring rainstorm disasters in the state.
Idowu recommended the strengthening of weather forecasting and early warning systems, the establishment of meteorological stations in all local government headquarters, strict enforcement of physical planning regulations, continuous dredging of waterways, the creation of climate change desks across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), and sustained public enlightenment on environmental protection.
Also speaking, the Technical Adviser to the Governor on Green Economy and Ecological Matters and Project Coordinator of the Ekiti NEWMAP-EIB Project, Dr. Akinyemi Akinyugha, disclosed that arrangements had reached an advanced stage for the establishment of two additional weather stations in the Ekiti North and Ekiti South Senatorial Districts.
According to him, the facilities will complement the existing weather station at the Ekiti Agro-Allied International Cargo Airport and improve the generation of reliable meteorological data and weather forecasts for the state.
The Technical Adviser to the Governor on Climate Change, Dr. Oliver Owen, also presented projections indicating that rainfall intensity in Ekiti could increase significantly over the next 25 years, with far-reaching implications for flooding, infrastructure, public health and urban development.
Representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (EKSEMA), as well as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, highlighted ongoing government interventions, including tree planting, climate monitoring, environmental surveillance and improved drainage management.
They called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, communities and residents to promote environmental sustainability and enhance disaster resilience.
In her closing remarks, Hon. Okieimen appreciated participants for their valuable contributions and reaffirmed the commitment of the House of Assembly to translating the recommendations from the public hearing into effective legislative measures aimed at reducing the impact of environmental disasters across the state.
.jpeg)
0 Comments