Don’t Divert, Sell Govt’s Palliatives, EKSG Warns 7,000 Disaster Victims

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State Government, has warned the citizens, especially the 7,000 beneficiaries of the relief packages donated to victims of disasters not to sell or divert the materials given to them by the government.  

The state government urged the beneficiaries to use the materials donated through collaboration between the federal and state governments judiciously to palliate their sufferings after falling victim of natural disasters.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, gave the warning, yesterday, while flagging off a federal government’s intervention programme for victims of disasters in the state.

Afuye, revealed that thousands of Ekiti residents have been enumerated by the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) to benefit from the programme, out of which 7,000 were picked for the first tranche of materials supplied to Ekiti.

She appealed to people to stop blocking the waterways through unwholesome practices that had caused flooding and destruction of lives and property in Ekiti.
The Deputy Governor lamented that reported cases of dumping of refuse inside drainages, building of structures on waterways and keeping of petroleum products inside residential buildings, had been largely responsible for cases of flooding and fire outbreak in the state.

“Let me appeal to our people not to sell or divert these materials for other use. It is to give you relief after suffering some losses. This is not an avenue to make brisk money the way some people used to think,” he added.

Harping on the need for citizens to be cautious of their actions, Afuye said: “I wish to appeal to our citizens to cooperate with government in the prevention of flooding or fire disasters in our state. I encourage you to avoid practices that can cause natural and man-induced disasters in your environment.
“People should desist from building houses on waterways or close streams and rivers. We should also avoid the terrible habit of dropping refuse inside drainages  during rainfall.

“Moreover, you are advised not to keep petrol inside residential buildings. These are perhaps the most common causes of flooding and fire disasters.”
Afuye commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritising the welfare of all Ekiti people through execution  of lofty policies that have positively affected the lives of civil servants, artisans, widows, pensioners, driver unions and other strata of the society.

Speaking at the occasion, the Director of National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA), Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, described the distribution of relief materials as part of the rescue mission of the federal government to improve the socio- economic condition of the victims.

Ahmed added that a total of 660,884 households were carefully captured through effective enumeration by NEMA’s staff  to benefit from the palliatives for their quick return to normalcy.
The NEMA boss appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the necessary support to accomplish this important and timely intervention.”