Flooding: NEMA Places Ekiti on Danger List

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti     

Ekiti State has been placed on danger list among the states expected to experience flooding based on increased volume of rainfall during the later part of this year.

The Head of Operations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Ekiti and Ondo States, Mr. Kadiri Olanrewaju, who made the declaration, called on residents of the state to take precautionary measures against the flooding predicted to occur in the state and its environs later this year.

Specifically, Olanrewaju said that the forecast by relevant agencies had named Ekiti among the states that are expected to experience flooding based on increased volume of rainfall, adding that most local government areas in the state were flood-prone with high risks due to sessional rainfall.

The NEMA boss disclosed this during a Road Show on flood sensitisation and awareness at Oja -Bisi, Oja -Oba and Fayose Markets yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, to educate traders on the risk of flood in different languages such as English, Pidgin, Igbo, Hausa and Ekiti dialect.

He said: “Every one of us has witnessed the recent floods in Nigeria, which claimed lives, displaced thousands of people as well as destroy properties worth millions of Naira. Floods cause widespread ecological dislocation.

“Therefore, it has become necessary for communities, individuals and authorities to take proactive measures. We need to believe that prevention is better and cheaper than cure, as well as consider climate change issues more seriously.”

 NEMA, therefore, urged Nigerians to obey warnings on the impending flood by the Nigerian Meteorological Department, noting that it will go a long way in reducing the impact of the flood.

In the same vein, the General Manager, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Jide Borode, advised traders to shun the habit of dumping refuse in the drains.

Also, the Director, Ekiti State Fire Service, Mr. Andrew Famosaya, urged Ekiti residents to stop illegal falling of trees but rather to develop the habits of planting of tress to tame deforestation, which could lead to flooding.

Agencies involved in the road show on flood sensitisation included the fire service, National Orientation Agency, SEMA, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, members of the National Youth Service Corp, NYSC among others.