The Ekiti Government has ordered the demolition of structures on waterways across the state to avert flooding.
The Ekiti Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, gave the directive, on Monday, during the flag off of a stakeholders’ engagement on 2025 Flood National Disasters and Response Campaign (NPRC).
The meeting had as its theme: “ Strengthening Resilience, Enhancing Preparedness and Response
Speaking at the event organised by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Ado Ekiti, Afuye directed local government councils and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to begin the marking of structures on waterways.
She expressed regrets that Ekiti witnessed repeated and devastating cases of flooding, and windstorms that wreaked havoc in some towns in 2024 and 2025.
The deputy governor said that NiMet had warned that Ekiti would be one of the possible flashpoints for flooding in 2025.
According to her, this makes it expedient for the local government chairmen to prevent desertification, ensure regular desilting of waterways, encourage tree planting and stop people building on flood prone areas.
Afuye also encouraged the involvement of community based disaster strategies.
She advised the council chairmen to work with traditional rulers in the respective areas to sensitise people on flooding in view of NiMet’s prediction.
The Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said that the sensitisation programme was a swift response to the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predictions that some states would be affected by flooding in 2025.
Umar, represented by Fred Anusim, the team lead and NEMA’s Head of Research and Planning, lamented the death of 150 persons in Mokwa, Niger State, where houses were submerged by flooding.
The D-G said that the danger was caused by human interference with nature.
Zubaida commended NiMet and Nigeria Hydrological Service agency on their annual flood outlook that had helped in preventing calamities in the country through accurate predictions for each climatic year.
“With the use of weather satellite surveillance and flood risking modelling software, they have been able to forecast at 90% accuracy of rainfall patterns in the country for all the LGAs.” she said.
The General Manager, Ekiti Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Oludare Asaolu, said the proactive steps taken by Governor Biodun Oyebanji in dredging of waterways and drainages, has mitigated cases of flooding in Ekiti.
Also, Chairman, Ekiti Council of Traditional Rulers, Oba Ayorinde Ilori-Faboro, appealed to the Federal Government to focus attention on erosion ravaging many communities in the state.
He described this as the most troubling crisis bedeviling some towns.
Participants at the engagement include: Chairmen of local governments, representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and Red Cross.
Others were representatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Fires Services, National Orientation Agency, civil servants, traditional rulers, traders, among others.