ADO-EKITI FLOOD: OYEBANJI SYMPATHISES WITH VICTIMS' FAMILIES. ....calls for concerted efforts against flooding.

 

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, has sympathised with families of victims of the recent flooding in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, calling for concerted efforts to curb the menace.

Governor Oyebanji expressed deep sadness over the incident which led to loss of lives, assuring that government would intensify efforts to address ecological challenges in the state.

According to the Director of Press, Office of the Deputy Governor, Tope Ariyo, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, whose office oversees disaster management, paid an on-site visit to the affected areas and addressed residents on behalf of the Governor.

Speaking at the sites of the incidents at Ayemi, Adebayo Road and Elemi, Afao Road, all in Ado-Ekiti, Governor Oyebanji noted that government had taken serious steps to tackle flooding by procuring earth-moving equipment, which has significantly reduced flooding across the state in the past few years.

The Governor, who said he was deeply worried by the unfortunate incident, called on residents to embrace safety regulations and precautionary measures by jettisoning indiscriminate waste disposal that causes blockage of waterways and making use of facilities provided by government.

"I want to be sincere with you, I am deeply worried by these unfortunate incidents. Immediately this administration came on board, various dredging machines were procured to address incessant flooding across the state. This effort has significantly reduced cases of flooding in the past few years," he said.

"Also in response to NiMet's forecast projecting the state as one of Nigeria's states prone to flooding in 2026, various dredging works, advocacies and media interventions were undertaken by government to stop the menace and sensitise the public on the need to embrace proper waste disposal."

The Governor also warned residents to stop taking undue risks that could endanger their lives, such as crossing flooded bridges during heavy rainfall, stressing that underestimating heavy water flow during rainfall could be disastrous.

"Government agencies have been moved to site to commence re-dredging of the waterways. Flooding is both a national and global issue. So, our people should exercise patience and allow floods to subside during heavy rainfall. This government is not happy with this situation and measures shall be taken to prevent recurrence of this ugly development in the future," he added.

While explaining that the state has a topography of special concern due to its mountainous and hilly nature, he appealed to the Federal Government and development partners to scale up ecological interventions in the state.

The General Manager of the State Emergency Management Board (SEMA), Mr. Oludare Asaolu, expressed the government’s readiness to take immediate remedial action by rebuilding bridges and reconnecting communities cut off by the flood.