By Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti
Ekiti State, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has also approved a sum of N88,351,351.35 to continue dredging exercise in Ado, Ikere and Ekiti South-West Local Government Areas to forestall incidence of flood and its attendant risk to lives and property.
The State Governor had proactively commenced dredging of major river courses in Ado Ekiti in January, 2023 even before the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) issued flood alerts flagging the State capital as a high risk zone, prone to flooding in 2023 raining season.
The dredging project actually helped to immensely reduce the impact of flooding predicted by NIMET in the State but unfortunately, the funds released for the project became inadequate due to hyper-inflation, astronomical increase in prizes of diesel, petrol, Swamp Buggy spare parts, haulage/movement of swamp Buggy from one location to another and maintenance cost.
The aforementioned changes coupled with devaluation of Naira and sharp increase in the exchange rate of Dollar to Naira, distorted major variables & assumptions upon which the approval of Mr. Governor was granted.
The project to be implemented through direct labour is to be completed within three months.