The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday sensitized residents of Ekiti State on the effect of flood, possible preventive measures and mitigation.
NEMA, through a road show, urged residents to be proactive, saying it began early moves to avert the flood predicted to accompany heavy rains in many states in the country, including Ekiti.
The Nigerian Metereological Agency and Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency had listed Ekiti among the 28 states of the Federation that may be heavily flooded by rainfall expected between August and October.
NEMA Head of Operations in charge of Ekiti, Ondo and Osun states, Olusegun Afolayan, who spoke during the exercise said it was in view of the prevention that the agency, as instructed by NEMA Director General, Air Vice Marshal Muhammadu Muhammed, undertook the sensitization campaign to educate the public in order to avoid imminent flood disasters.
Afolayan said, “We are here to sensitise the people on the need to be proactive by not dumping waste indiscriminately in the drainage or public places and for those living in flood-prone areas to vacate such environments.
“Flood is a natural disaster. We can only take preventive measures to avert it and in case it happens, to ensure the impact is less. That is the reason for this exercise. There is the need to clear all the refuse dump in the gutters so that water will flow properly and thoroughly.
“We saw some canals where refuse was dumped. We have to notify State Environmental Protection Agency to clear those wastes. The state government has been urged to do the needful and as well, the community at large.
“The government should direct its agency to clear blocked canals and also embark on the sensitization of the communities by disseminating information to them on the ills of indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the gutters or the surrounding environments so as to avoid the imminent flood disaster as predicted by NIMET, NIHSA and NEMA,”Afolabi said.
He identified Ado, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ijero and Ikere councils as areas of the state prone to flooding.
The NEMA boss was joined on the road show by officials of Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency and Ekiti State Fire Service who took turn to address the residents and traders on the need to dump wastes properly
SEMA General Manager, Olajide Borode, said the agency had been taking proactive steps to avert flood in Ekiti.
“Right now, Ekiti State Government is clearing the drainages and dredging canals.
“The state government is constructing new drainages. Right now, channelization of the canals in Ikere and parts of Ado Ekiti had been completed, while others are still ongoing.
“We are appealing to residents of the state to comply with all environmental standards and rules of the state not to dump waste on the waterways, canals and drainages and not build on flood planes,” Borode said.