Flood: SEMA, NEMA warn Ekiti residents against dumping refuse in drains

Residents of Ekiti State have been urged to shun acts that can lead to flooding and other natural disasters during this rainy season and beyond.

This call was made during the official inspection at the scene of flooded areas in Ido Ekiti as a result of the recent heavy rainfalls by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

The officials, led by the General Manager of SEMA, Mr Olajide Borode, said the visit became imperative to have an on-the-spot assessment exercise to evaluate the essence of the collapsed bridge and loss of properties in Ido-Ekiti, Ido Osi Local Government Area. He stressed that most floods are caused by improper disposal of refuse and the erection of structures on waterways.

Responding to the pleas from the victims, Borode explained that SEMA and its national counterpart, are only saddled with the duty of distributing relief materials to victims of natural disasters, while channelization and construction of drainage are carried out by the State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).

He, however, assured that the agencies would ensure that government extends the distribution of relief materials to the affected residents in due course.

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While briefing the newsmen on the incident, the chairman of Ido-Osi Local Government Area, Sola Ogunsina, said the Awonni River usually overflows its bank during rainy seasons, thereby flooding the community and its environs.

According to him, the affected areas included Okere, Alapo, and Lion of Judah streets, all in Ido-Ekiti. The chairman said the flood happened on the 6th, 7th, and 22nd of June, 2023, leading to residents calling him on the phone in the dead of the night for help.

Ogunsina stressed that because of the location of Ido town, floods from other communities flowed in through the Awonni River, thereby causing huge damage to Ido Ekiti. He pleaded with the Ekiti State Government for drainage construction and channelisation, which he said would go a long way in checking incessant floods in the community.

One of the victims, Seun Afolayan, said that the aftermath of the flood is usually a horrible experience that involved loss of lives, properties, and livestock acquired over the years.