The Ekiti State Government has expended N475 million in the last 18months on the dredging of waterways and desiltation of drains and gutters to avoid flooding.

The state Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, who made this known during an inspection of ongoing environmental projects in Ado-Ekiti, said the government’s proactive move had culminated in reducing the risk of disaster in flood prone areas of Ado-Ekiti and other parts of the state.

The commissioner said that the government was strategic in solving the ecological issues, stressing that the focus was to as much as possible eliminate risk of perennial flood and its attendant destruction of properties and loss of lives.

He said that the current efforts of the state was to consolidate gains made since the assumption of office of the Oyebanji administration in tackling incessant flooding, erosion and other ecological problems facing many communities in the state.

According to him, a total of 45.67km of waterways were dredged as of 2023 at Oreremope community, behind Obasanjo Estate, along Ikere road and Olaoluwa-Omisanjana-Ureje- Olaoluwa-Alasia community.

Other areas dredged include d the Federal Polytechnic road – ABUAD culverts to Emirin; Basiri – Olorunda – Crownbiz / Aayemi – Balemo – Onala; and Elemi – Afao road to Ado Poly all within Ado Ekiti metropolis.

Olatubosun also listed communities that benefited in the desiltation of 67.2km of lined drains, culverts and access slabs to include Police Station New Iyin Road, Secretariat Complex, Basiri Sawmill-Police Headquarter, Christ School Complex to Nova Junction, Mojere Market-Crownbiz in Iworoko Road, NTA Road – House of Assembly road junction,

Other were Housing Corporation – Adebayo, Oke-Ila Main Avenue -Housing Junction, Ojumose/Aremu/Okeori Omi/Isato, St Patrick’s-Fayose Market,  Lino Supermarket – School of Nursing, Roundabout/Odo-Ado/Ureje Bridge Poly Road, Ileabiye-Egbewa Junction, Eco Bank-Old Technical College and Ajibade lane/St. Andrew Anglican Mary hill entrance

The commissioner said that the government’s proactive measures of ensuring cleared waterways and drainages had effectively prevented the flood disaster predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and the National Emergency Management Agency.

He said that this would be sustained as the government would leave no stone unturned to secure lives and property of residents in the state.

In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Environment,  Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe, said the recent dredging of Ofin and Elemi streams by her ministry has concluded the end of dredging activities in the Onala Afao road and Ifesowapo communities in Ado-Ekiti.

She added that dredging of waterways would however continue in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of the State while another round of distillation of drainages would be extended to all parts of the state.

The commissioner advised residents to abide strictly to the state environmental laws by refraining from indiscriminate dumping of waste into drainages and waterways as well as refrain from erecting structures on river setbacks and waterways.

The Chairman of Boladuro Community Landlord association, Akindele David and Acting Chairman of Elemi Residents Association, Tijani Adebayo, who spoke on behalf of the residents of the areas, expressed appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for giving them a new lease of life.

He said that incessant flooding, which had hitherto plagued their communities for several decades and almost rendered them homeless, had now become a thing of the past.

(NAN)