Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has offered to help victims of the rainstorm that destroyed at least 50 houses in some communities on Wednesday evening, leaving many residents homeless.
The communities affected by the rainstorm include Ipoti, Ejiyan, Owatedo, and Odo Owa Ekiti, all in the Ijero Local Government Area.
Oyebanji, who visited the affected communities for an on-the-spot assessment on Thursday, sympathized with the victims and promised to initiate a process that would provide relief for them to repair their damaged buildings. The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Monisade Afuye, during the visit, charged landlords to always take precautions by repairing damaged roofs and changing weak planks that can predispose their residences to unwarranted wreckage.
Oyebanji emphasized the importance of regular maintenance of old buildings to avert annual rainstorms that render many homeless and economically disadvantaged. He expressed sadness at seeing people rendered homeless due to rainstorms and promised that the state government would provide assistance to the victims.
The governor assured the victims that the officers of the State Emergency Management Agency would visit the affected areas to enumerate the buildings and value the damage. He encouraged residents to embrace tree planting around residential areas to serve as windbreakers during stormy rainfall.
Oyebanji also urged traditional rulers to propagate tree-planting practices among the people at the grassroots. The Olupoti of Ipoti Ekiti, Oba Oladipupo Kolade, and the Oloja-Owa of Owatedo, Oba Adebayo Adewole, described the calamity as heartrending, saying people needed to manage their buildings to resolve such a crisis.
The Ekiti State Government’s swift response to the rainstorm disaster is commendable. The governor’s promise to provide relief to the victims and initiate a process for the repair of damaged buildings is a welcome development. The emphasis on regular maintenance of old buildings and tree planting around residential areas is also a step in the right direction.