Ekiti: Residents Bemoan Rise In Flooding, Call For Government Intervention

By Ayodele Oni

Residents of Ado Ekiti, capital of Ekiti state are counting losses caused by continued heavy downpour in the town.

Virtually major township roads within the metropolis have been taken over by flood, while residential houses are being vacated due to intensity of flood.

Investigation reveals that the drainages have collapsed as a result of heavy flooding thereby diverting water to houses.

Meteorologists had earlier warned that some parts of Ekiti are prone to flooding as a result of heavy downpour, while government has intensified effort to curtail it.

There are indications that more areas are still going to be affected by flooding as the state has only witnessed heavy downpour in the month of June.

To reduce damage by flooding, the state government has embarked on dredging of major rivers within the state capital, while it embarks on sensitization of residents to stop dumping refuse inside existing drainages.

Some landlords and residents of Ikeja Avenue, Adere, have appealed to the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji to quickly rescue them from incessant flooding affecting the area.

A late night heavy downpour on Wednesday ravaged the area with flood forcing out residents from their homes.

Some of the landlords who spoke with newsmen appealed to the Governor to dredge the canal connecting Federal Polytechnic, Satellite Campus to Abe Cocoa for free flow of erosion.

Also, they called on the ministry of environment to check indiscriminate dumping of refuse and plastics into the canal as such was blocking the water flow.

Residents of Onala area off Afao road have equally appealed to the government to dredge the river which passes through the community, an exercise which was last carried out in 2014.

They claim they now sleep with an eye closed to avoid being caught unaware by flood.