In a bid to prevent flooding, the Ekiti State government has intensified efforts to clear waterways and drainages, urging residents to cooperate by avoiding harmful environmental practices.
According to The PUNCH, the Commissioner for Environment, Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, warned against indiscriminate waste disposal and building on river setbacks, emphasizing the need to adhere to state environmental laws.
The commissioner, alongside her counterpart in the Ministry of Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, spoke in Ado Ekiti, during the tour of ongoing environmental projects in the state capital, as part of efforts to avert the flood predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and National Emergency Management Agency.
Aluko-Ajisafe said the state embarked on dredging and desilting of rivers to ensure the free flow of water.
“My ministry has concluded dredging of Ofin and Elemi streams. We have concluded dredging and desilting activities at the Onala Afao Road and Ifesowapo communities in the state capital.
“Dredging of waterways will, however, continue in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of the state while another round of desilting of drainages would be extended to all parts of the state, as part of efforts to prevent flood in the state,” she said.
Olatunbosun, on his part, said, “A total of 45.67km of streams and rivers had been dredged while 67.2km of drainages were de-silted within the Ado Ekiti metropolis as of the end of 2023.
“The state government is committed to ensuring a clean, healthy and safe environment, hence the proactive measures of ensuring cleared waterways and drainages effectively. The efforts will be continuous.”
He said that the state government had committed N475.2m in the last 18 months on the dredging of waterways and desilting of drains and gutters, to ensure efficient passage of water through the system.
“The focus is to, as much as possible, eliminate the risk of perennial flood and environmental degradation with their attendant destruction of life and properties.
“Government’s proactive move has culminated in the removal of all impediments in waterways and allowed free-flow, which has significantly reduced the risk of disaster in flood-prone areas of Ado Ekiti and other parts of the state,” he added.
