EkIti State Governor, Mr Abiodun Oyebanji has sympathised with the families of the victims of the recent flooding that occurred at various sites in the state capital, Ado EkIti with a call for concerted efforts at curbing the menace of flooding in the state.
Oyebanji expressed deep sadness at the unfortunate incident which led to the loss of lives of some residents of the state capital assuring that government would buckle efforts in addressing the ecological challenges bedevilling the state.
According to the Deputy Governor of the state, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye whose office overseas disaster management in the state paid an on-site visit to the various scenes of the incidents and addressed the people on behalf the Governor in Ado EkIti, the state capital.
Speaking at the sites of the incidents, Ayemi, Adebayo road and Elemi, Afao road, all in the state capital, Oyebanji noted that government had taken serious efforts at tackling water surge in the state by purchasing various earthmoving equipment which had been instrumental to a significant reduction in flooding across the state in the past few years .
The Governor who hinted that he was deeply worried by the unfortunate incident called on residents across the state to embrace safety regulations and take precautionary measures by jettisoning the conservative methods of wastes disposal that cause blockage of waterways by making use of the facilities provided by government for their wastes disposal.
” I want to be sincere with you, l am deeply worried by these unfortunate incidents. Immediately this administration came on board, various dredging machines were procured to address incessant flooding occurrences across the state. This effort has significantly reduced cases of flooding for the past few years.”
“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 also sensitize the public on the need to embrace the proper way of wastes disposal.”
The Governor also warned residents to stop taking undue risks that could endanger their lives by crossing flooded bridges during heavy rainfallls stressing that undermining heavy water traffic during rainfall could be disastrous.
“Government agencies have been moved to site to commence the re-dredging of the waterways. Flooding is both 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 the reoccurrence of this ugly development in the future.”
While explaining that the state had a topography of special concern due to the mountainous and hilly nature of the environment, he appealed to the federal government and developmental partners to upscale their ecological interventions in the state .
The General Manager of the State Emergency Management Board (SEMA), Mr Oludare Asaolu expressed the readiness of government to take immediate reparation actions in the aftermath of the flood by rebuilding bridges and connecting communities that had been hitherto cut off by the flood.