The Ekiti State government commenced the dredging of waterways and rivers in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday to curb flooding during the rainy season.

The chairman, Ekiti State Environmental Protection Agency (EKSEPA), Bamitale Oguntoyinbo, led board members of the agency to inspect the ongoing dredging of rivers at various sites in Ado-Ekiti.

Some of the flood-prone areas visited included Iso and Oshodi streets, both along Afao Road in Ado Ekiti, while the sites of the Elemi and Iremide rivers, which had undergone dredging, were also inspected.

The board members also visited the ongoing dredging at the Ureje River along Olujoda and Falana, down to Moferere Street, and a river at GRA Third Extension, along the new Iyin Ekiti road in Ado-Ekiti.

Reacting, the chairman of EKSEPA, Mr Oguntoyinbo, expressed satisfaction with the job done by the engineer handling the dredging of the rivers.

“The governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, is very passionate about the safety of lives and properties of his people. He is making sure that the flood does not affect residents of any community in Ado-Ekiti,” he said.

Mr Oguntoyinbo advised residents of Ado-Ekiti to stop building houses and fences on waterways.

He urged the State Town Planning Management to ensure that the standard of setting aside a layout for waterways before building houses was upheld to curb flooding in any part of the state.

Similarly, Olukayode Adunmo, the general manager of EKSEPA, stated that the rivers were previously dredged by three kilometres, noting that 10 kilometres have been further dredged in all the rivers prone to flooding in Ado-Ekiti.

Mr Adunmo said the purpose of the dredging was to curb destructive floods in any part of the Ado-Ekiti metropolis.

“In the last two to three weeks, there has been heavy rainfall, and I think residents living in the flood-prone areas have been lucky because of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s prompt intervention.

“If not for his intervention, Ekiti would have been part of the states affected by the flood disaster.

“But our amiable governor has been proactive in curbing flooding by addressing the menace the way it should be tackled. This is why we are enjoying peace in Ekiti,” he said.

The general manager noted that the state government had embarked on flood control since 2023 and would not relent in its efforts to keep residents living in flood-prone areas safe

(NAN)