Ekiti state government has spent more than N1 billion on flood control and mitigation measures across the state as part of proactive efforts to protect lives and property from flooding predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
General Manager of the Ekiti State Environmental Protection and Watershed Management Agency, Mr Olukayode Adunmo, disclosed this in Ado Ekiti, saying the government began its comprehensive flood mitigation programme in 2023, long before the latest NiMet prediction.
According to him, the intervention, which covers the dredging and rehabilitation of waterways, as well as the desilting of drainages and culverts, is aimed at ensuring free flow of water and reducing the risk of flooding across the state.
Adunmo said N1.18 billion had been expended between 2023 and 2026 on dredging waterways, desilting drainages and culverts, as well as maintaining hydraulic infrastructure in several parts of Ekiti.
He commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji, for his proactive approach to flood management, stressing that the government did not wait for annual flood predictions before commencing preventive measures.
“Combating flooding generally in Ekiti state started in 2023. I must commend Mr Governor for his proactiveness and forthrightness in tackling this problem headlong without waiting for NiMet prediction that some of the local governments in the state would be flooded,” he said.
The general manager disclosed that the government had approved dredging interventions in about eight local government areas, including Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti South-West, Ido-Osi, Ise/Orun, Irepodun/Ifelodun and Aiyekire, among others.
He explained that Ado and Ikere-Ekiti had received particular attention because they have repeatedly been identified as areas vulnerable to flooding by NiMet and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
He disclosed that desilting operations had been carried out in several local government areas, including Moba, Ikere, Ekiti South-West, Ado-Ekiti and Irepodun/Ifelodun.