Lifeline For Disaster Victims In Ekiti, As They Receive N20 Million

By Ayodele Oni

Victims of rainstorm and fire disasters numbering 46 in Ekiti state got a- N20 million support fund from the State Government, on Thursday.

At the occasion, the state government lamented that most of the emergency cases causing colossal losses of lives and properties are human-induced, urging residents to be proactive in taking actions that could avert some of these incidences for the safety of all.

The State Deputy Governor, Monisade Afuye, assured the victims that Governor Oyebanji would continually respond positively to their cries to cushion the effect of disasters on them, insisting that the current  government is more desirous of prevention, rather than taking palliative actions to put a soothing balm on their pains.

Applauding Governor Oyebanji’s strides to relaunch some of those who lost their homes and businesses back to reckoning, Mrs Afuye, revealed that the governor had earlier approved a sum of N24.5 million to victims of rainstorm in Oke Ako Ekiti.

She appealed to those in the habit of building their structures across river valleys or waterways to desist, saying such actions would no longer be tolerated by government.

“If we are to rate the governors in terms of display of love for their citizens, Governor Oyebanji ranks best in the country. This money is not for you to go undertake family responsibilities or other extraneous things, but to relaunch your destroyed businesses and homes that got destroyed by fire or storm.

“The people we selected were carefully enumerated by the State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA) and those who have submitted their claims will soon benefit, it might be before the end of the year.

“Let me place on record that the present government under Governor Biodun Oyebanji is a progressive and forward looking one, favorably disposed to collaborating with any group or individual, most especially with the federal government that is equally committed to raising the standard of living of the people.

“I want to appeal to all of us to imbibe the culture of  environmental preservation and avoid incessant bush burning during dry season, careless dropping of cigarette tips, storage of Prenium Motor Spirit within the house and always switch off electrical appliances when not in use in order to reduce future occurrence of this type of mishap.”

Addressing the beneficiaries, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Head of Operations in Ekiti/Ondo, Mr. Olanrewaju Kadiri, applauded the government for taking actions to mitigate disasters, rating Ekiti as having one of the best in terms of emergency managements and responses in the country.

“Since the advent of this administration, we have enjoyed good emergency management and responses that really complemented our works.

“If you check very well, we are having increasing  cases of disasters. We had rainstorm  in Oke Ako, fire disaster at Shasha market, flooding in various places, so we need to buckle up to be able to prevent some of these occurrences.”