The Ekiti State Government, on Friday, revealed that Governor Biodun Oyebanji had expended N325 million to assuage the feelings of victims of rainstorm , flooding and fire disasters in the last one year.
The Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the revelation, while distributing materials worth N150 million provided by the state government to the first batch of rainstorm victims in Ado Ekiti, on Friday.
The multimillion naira materials that were distributed to those who fell victims between March and May, 2025 were: cash gifts, planks, nails, iron sheets, several bags of cement, and other building accessories.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Mrs Afuye said a total of 1,042 victims drawn across the 16 Local Government Areas would benefit from the government’s large-heartedness and social intervention programme .
She said Oyebanji has taken proactive actions to prevent disasters in the state by aggressing clearing of drainages, dredging of waterways, stepping up of sensitisation programmes and inauguration of the Local Emergency Management Committees to work at the grassroots.
To make the governor’s efforts yield more dividends, the Deputy Governor, appealed to the Local Government Chairmen to ensure effective and sufficient funding of the newly established Local Emergency Management Committees across the 16 statutory council areas of the state.
“Between last year and now, Governor Oyebanji has assisted victims of reported fire disaster with over N90m, apart from the approval of N150m to the victims of rainstorm between March and May 2025, who are beneficiaries of today.
“Mr Governor has approved and released additional N50m for the victims of rainfall between June and October, 2025, while a sum.of N34m has been approved and released as cash grant for those whose valuables were gutted by fire recently.
“I appeal to our people to jettison ugly habits of keeping combustible materials that can ignite fire outbreak within their premises and ensure that all electrical appliances are disabled when not in use. As harmattan is fast approaching, we pray against any disaster that can destroy our communities and our belongings”.
Mrs Afuye added that, though, the materials distributed may not be sufficient to rebuild their losses, but pointed out that they were provided by the government to palliate their sufferings at this critical time.
She charged the council bosses to complement the sensitisation and advocacy programmes of government at the grassroots, so that those who are notorious in habits that normally stoked constant flooding, rainstorm and fire incidences can be weaned from their nefarious acts.
Speaking in the same vein, by way of describing the government’s intervention as a landmark stride, the General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Oludare Asaolu, disclosed that the materials and cash gifts to be distributed worth over N150 million for the first batch of beneficiaries.
Asaolu said the intervention was targeted at mitigating their sufferings and help in regaining their losses, appealing to residents to devise ways of reducing disaster by building flood resistant structures, embrace afforestation, apply effective drainage system, enforce building planning system and community education and advocacy.
The SEMA boss begged the NEMA, as a supervisory body, to continually support the state to government to ensure that victims of unpreventable emergency situations are not left to suffer.
Underscoring the significance of the intervention, the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), head of operation in Ekiti State, Mrs Kofoworola Soleye, saluted the state government for prioritising the welfare of the disaster victims through consistent financial provisions to buffer their sufferings..
Soleye appealed to the residents to guard against bush burning, take precautions in the use of electrical gadgets and electricity and embrace maintenance culture on their residences, pointing out that some of the disaster issues stemmed from negligent and poor dispositions of the citizens.
The Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Hon Adeoye Aribasoye,
represented by the House Leader, Hon Tolu Ige, alluded to the programme as a masterstroke that defines the truthful intention of the shared prosperity agenda of Governor Oyebanji’s administration.
Hon Aribasoye saluted the governor for being emphatic and inclusive in governance, saying the dividends of democracy under this government have trickled down to the grassroots and making significant positive effects in the lives of the citizens.
Also lending his voice, the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, represented by Odogun of Ado Ekiti, Chief Festus Abegunde, appealed to beneficiaries to make judicious use of the materials, warning that they shouldn’t sell off the products under any guise.