Many residents of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, were displaced as flood wreaked havoc in the city following a heavy downpour that lasted for over six hours on the night of Sunday, September 11, 2022.
The victims also lost valuable items in areas like Oshodi, Ilupeju Avenue, Ureje, Ita Eku, and Temidire Eminrin, a suburb of Ado Ekiti, located along Federal Polytechnic Road.
The heavy downpour began at about 10pm on Sunday and subsided at about 3: 22am on Monday.
Temidire Emirin community was worst affected as flood waters from Ureje River swelled and overflew the bank, thereby prevented students, civil servants and artisans from going to schools and places of work.
The overflown bridge only subsided around 12: 30pm to give way for residents to have access to the Ado-ABUAD-Ijan -Ekiti highway that leads to Ado-Ekiti metropolis.
A resident of Temidire Emirin community and victim of the flood, Mr Jude Ajulo, said they were inside sleeping when the water suddenly surged into their residence around 2:00am, and submerged their property.
Ajulo revealed that the occupants of the three-bedroom bungalow had to run out when the water level was rising and threatening their lives.
He said: “This has been the occurrence every year. It happened in the same way few years ago before the administration of Mr Ayodele Fayose dredged Ureje River.
“The only way the government can help us is to re-dredge the river to be able to contain the running water coming down from Odo-Ado, Oshodi, Ilupeju Avenue to our community.
“It is sad that our property and lives were being threatened every time we experience heavy downpour, and this shouldn’t be allowed to continue.”
Another resident of Oshodi community, along Afao road, Mr Taiwo Osaleye, appealed to government to dredge the Elemi River that crosses the section to resolve the flood crisis.
“We have noticed that we always experience flooding anytime the Elemi River overflew its bank due to rising water level.
“The only thing that can bring permanent solution is for the government to help us expand the riverbank, so that the safety of our lives and property can be guaranteed,” he said.
The General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Mr Olajide Borode, said the agency had started visiting the areas affected with intention to get first-hand information on the extent of damage caused by flooding.
The SEMA boss said: “You all know that the government of Ekiti State is serious about disaster management policy.
“Safety of lives and property is a priority of the current government, and we won’t joke with it.
“Our officials are presently visiting the areas affected, so that we can get the correct information that can guide government’s action in resolving the incident.”
In a related development, the Kano State House of Assembly has appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of communities affected by recent flooding in the state.
The lawmakers made the call during plenary session on Monday, September 12, presided by the Speaker, Hamisu Chidari.
The House made the call after motions on joint matters of urgent public interest were moved by members of Kiru, Bebeji and Rano Constituencies.
The motions were presented to the House by the Deputy Speaker and Member representing Kiru Constituency, Kabiru Dashi.
The lawmakers also urged the state government to call on Hadejia/Jama’are River Basin Development Authority and the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency address the overflow of water from Tiga Dam.
According to them, doing so will curtail the menace of further flooding, loss of lives and property in the area.
The lawmakers described the incident as unfortunate and critical, while also calling on both the Kano State Government and the Federal Government to come to the rescue of the communities.
After deliberations, the House adopted the motions, sympathized with the affected communities and prayed against a recurrence of the disaster.
The overflow of the Tiga Dam last week wreaked havoc with the destruction of farmlands, roads, houses and displacement of residents in the communities.
Meanwhile, the House of Assembly has received a letter from Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje seeking approval for the appointment of the Chairman and reappointment of five members of the state’s Law Reforms Commission.
Law Reforms Commission comprises of retired Justice Lawan Wada as Chairman, with Sadiq Garba, Muhd, Aliyu, Yahaya Rimi, Dr Muhammad Minjibir, Garzali Zubairu and Hauwa Yusuf as members.
The letter was committed to the House Standing Committee on Judiciary and was given one week to report back for further legislative actions.
By Bolanle Lawal and Muhammad Nur Tijani
