The Ekiti State Government has distributed relief materials to 600 residents who lost their homes and other properties to floods in 2019.
The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, who flagged off the distribution on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti, said the gesture was carried out to cushion the effects of flooding and identify with the victims.
Egbeyemi, who was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff Mr Tade Aluko, lauded the efforts of the Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, in facilitating the processing and release of the materials through the Presidential Task Force on Flooding.
While sympathising with the victims, Egbeyemi noted that although the materials could not replace the total losses suffered from flooding, he said they were given out in order to mitigate the effects of the disaster.
Egbeyemi said the alarm sounded by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) on likelihood of floods in September and October with Ekiti as one of the states it would occur was an early warning signal for adequate preparation.
The Deputy Governor stressed that this year’s rainy season had begun hence the need to take proactive steps to prevent another flood disaster that could wreak havoc on lives and property.
Such steps, according to him, include stoppage of erection of houses in flood-prone areas and desisting from dumping refuse in drainages and other unauthorized places. He added that the state government has embarked on dredging of waterways in some locations to save residents from flooding.
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Mohammed, said the Federal Government would not relent in collaborating with the state governments in giving succour to victims of disaster.
Mohammed who was represented by NEMA Zonal Coordinator in charge of Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States, Mr Segun Afolayan appealed to the people in the three states to uphold safety regulations to prevent flooding.
The NEMA chief who noted that human factors are parts of triggers of flooding warned residents against building of houses along waterways to prevent loss of lives and property.
The General Manager, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Jide Borode, assured that the state government would not relent in its efforts to alleviating the suffering of disaster victims within the available resources.
While noting that disasters may be natural but their effects could be mitigated through adherence to measures that could prevent their occurrence. The exercise which commenced on Wednesday is expected to continue on Thursday to provide palliatives to more flood victims.
Last modified: August 19, 2020
