Ekiti State’s Commissioner for Environment, Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, on Wednesday, appealed to citizens to refrain from harmful environmental habits that could undermine the government’s initiatives to mitigate flooding in the state.
Ajisafe, who stated that the state government had committed a lot to the prevention of flooding, advised residents “to adhere strictly to the state environmental laws by refraining from indiscriminate dumping of waste into drainages and waterways and erection of structures on river setbacks and waterways.”
During a tour of ongoing environmental projects in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, Commissioner for Environment, Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, and her counterpart from the Ministry of Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, addressed the press, highlighting the state government’s proactive measures to prevent flooding, as forecasted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and National Emergency Management Agency.
The Federal Government, on July 4, warned states and local government areas to brace for increased flooding as the country entered the peak of the rainy season.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof Joseph Utsev, gave the warning at a news conference in Abuja.
On July 16, the Minister of State of Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, told The PUNCH that 94 towns were at risk of a five-day flooding, beginning on Tuesday, July 16, and ending on July 20.
Salako said the identified locations and their environs would likely witness heavy rainfall that may lead to flood within the prediction period.
Although Ekiti State was not listed among the affected states, Aluko-Ajisafe said the state embarked on dredging and desilting of rivers to ensure the free flow of water.
“My ministry has concluded dredging of Ofin and Elemi streams. We have concluded dredging and desilting activities at the Onala Afao Road and Ifesowapo communities in the state capital.
“Dredging of waterways will, however, continue in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of the state while another round of desilting of drainages would be extended to all parts of the state, as part of efforts to prevent flood in the state,” she said.
Olatunbosun, on his part, said, “A total of 45.67km of streams and rivers had been dredged while 67.2km of drainages were de-silted within the Ado Ekiti metropolis as of the end of 2023.
“The state government is committed to ensuring a clean, healthy and safe environment, hence the proactive measures of ensuring cleared waterways and drainages effectively. The efforts will be continuous.”
According to the commissioner, the state government has invested a significant sum of N475.2 million over the past 18 months in comprehensive dredging and desilting initiatives, aimed at optimizing waterway efficiency and ensuring the unobstructed flow of water through the drainage system.
“The focus is to, as much as possible, eliminate the risk of perennial flood and environmental degradation with their attendant destruction of life and properties.
“Government’s proactive move has culminated in the removal of all impediments in waterways and allowed free-flow, which has significantly reduced the risk of disaster in flood-prone areas of Ado Ekiti and other parts of the state,” he added.
