By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
The Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun has said that the State government uses a proactive and holistic approach to tackle disaster related issues through the establishment of concrete structures and measures.
Rt. Hon. Olatunbosun, in an exclusive interview with Heritage News in Ado Ekiti disclosed that, Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s led Government is therefore well prepared and well equipped to counter emergency situation in the state.
He said “Apart from being well-equipped, we also ensure proper disaster mitigation with sustained action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects. One of the essential strategies we use to reduce the negative consequences and repercussions of crises and disasters as they arise and prevent or reduce the seriousness of future problems is constant advocacy and sensitization of the people.
“We also strictly enforce the land use and zoning practices as well as implement and enforce building codes to guide against building in flood prone areas to reduce the risk of incessant flooding while waterways are constantly dredged and gutters dilsilt for the same reason.
“The state government under the Biodun Oyebanji recently refurbished six firefighting trucks and two water tankers as part of efforts to improve response time for emergency and make fire fighters more efficient and results oriented. Apart from that, fire consumables that were procured for them.
“This fire service equipment was distributed to all the first stations across the state, including the solar boreholes for the seven fire stations in Ado, Ikere, Omuo, Ikole, Aramoko, Ijero. The services there have been upgraded and we have enough personnel in those areas to tackle any fire emergency.
“Lately, a trailer fell down around Aramoko/Erio side, and within a tinkle of an eye, the fire services people were there. They successfully put the situation under control and saved a lot of people. This affirms the level of preparedness of government to tackle emergencies.
“We, in addition, have continued to persistently sensitize residents on the importance of exercising caution to escape avoidable loss of lives and property. We all know that the risk of fire outbreak is more prominent during the dry season while the environment is at greater risk of flooding during the raining season.
“It is on record that even before the NIMET prediction of heavy rainfall and possible flooding in 2023, the Oyebanji administration from inception, commenced dredging of waterways and desiltation of gutters through the length and breadth of the State with particular attention to erosion prone areas after conducting an intensive assessment of areas susceptible to erosion in the State. This preventive move resulted in total riddance of issues of flooding in the State in spite of the NIMET prediction.
“Government ensured that when those assessments were done, we discovered that there were some areas that were prone to a lot of erosion hazard both in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti West and Ikere, these are major areas in the local governments that were affected across the state.
“Apart from this, this assessment gave the government the opportunity to really know what to do and immediately contracted the excavation and dredging of some of the waterways, so that there will not be problems arising from the issue of erosion in the past which affected the people.
” we have worked major rivers sources at Orere Mope community, behind Obasanjo estate, Olaoluwa, in Omisanjana area to Ereje to Alasa community, Ado/Poly road bridge around Emerin area, the excavation have been done in order to avoid any unnecessary flash and Basiri area, Olorunda, Crown Bizs, Balemo, Onala, where we usually have this annual problems. Today, I can tell you that throughout last year, we did not experience any flooding that usually obstruct traffic and disturb the people around the area.
“The Alasia housing estate is ongoing. Today, if there would be rainfall, our people would be comfortable. And, in the area of emergency intervention where people are affected by natural rainfall or storms or even fire, government have been very proactive about that area.
“Strategically, within the last one year or so, the State Government provided relief materials to over 7,000 people and just last week the government still distributed emergency relief materials to our people ranging from food stuffs, beddings, iron roofs, planks, nails to artisans and other people that were affected by rainstorms.
“Governor Biodun Oyebanji, has been very responsive and pro-actives to most of these issues. Today, we are well prepared, the workforce, the personnel, they are ready, in terms of training and retraining to upgrade their services and intelligence to attend to such situations, we are well prepared”. He added