ADO EKITI FLOOD: OYEBANJI SYMPATHISES WITH VICTIMS' FAMILIES.

ADO EKITI FLOOD: OYEBANJI SYMPATHISES WITH VICTIMS' FAMILIES.

...CALLS FOR CONCERTED EFFORTS AGAINST FLOODING.

EkIti State Governor, Mr Biodun 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 Christianah 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.