Ekiti State Government has issued a firm warning against the construction of houses on waterways, threatening demolition to avert devastating floods and safeguard lives and property.
On Monday, Deputy Governor Mrs. Monisade Afuye announced the directive during a crucial Stakeholders’ Engagement on National Disaster Preparedness and Response Campaign 2025 held in Ado Ekiti. The event was organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in partnership with the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Mrs. Afuye emphasized that identifying and removing illegal structures along waterways would not only serve as a deterrent against further encroachments but also significantly reduce the risk of flood-related catastrophes. She urged local government authorities to enforce these measures strictly to protect vulnerable communities and valuable assets from potential destruction.
The engagement brought together key stakeholders, including local government chairpersons, security agencies such as the Nigeria Police Force and the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, Red Cross, Nigerian Immigration Service, fire services, traditional rulers, traders, and civil servants.
Highlighting recent forecasts by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Mrs. Afuye warned that Ekiti State is among the regions predicted to face severe flooding in 2025. She called on local governments to prioritize environmental interventions such as combating desertification, regular desilting of waterways, afforestation, constructing flood barriers, and strictly prohibiting construction on flood-prone zones.
“We appeal to NEMA and SEMA to collaborate closely with local governments and the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning to identify and dismantle illegal structures along waterways,” she stated. “This partnership is vital for strengthening our disaster prevention strategies statewide.”
The Deputy Governor also acknowledged the state government’s ongoing support for victims of recent disasters, including fire outbreaks and severe rainstorms, through relief distributions. She further appealed to the Federal Government, via NEMA, to allocate additional resources to assist affected communities.
NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, who was represented by the agency’s Head of Research and Planning, Mr. Fred Anusim, underscored the urgency of public sensitization in response to NiMet’s flood risk warnings. She referenced the tragic flooding incident in Niger State that led to submerged homes and loss of lives, attributing the crisis largely to human encroachment on natural waterways.
Mrs. Umar praised the accurate and timely flood outlooks provided annually by NiMet and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, which have been instrumental in national disaster risk management efforts.
“The awareness campaign spearheaded by NEMA aims to prepare Ekiti residents and all stakeholders to minimize the impact of predicted floods,” she explained.
Dr. Evans Ugoh, NEMA’s Deputy Director of Disaster Risk Reduction, elaborated on the four phases of disaster management: mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. He stressed that the current initiative focuses on proactive mitigation and preparedness activities, including early warning systems, capacity building, public education, risk mapping, and stakeholder collaboration.
Echoing these sentiments, SEMA General Manager Mr. Oludare Asaolu commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration for its proactive measures in dredging waterways and clearing drainage channels, efforts that have significantly reduced flooding occurrences in the state.
Mr. Asaolu cautioned that unchecked flooding can lead to loss of life, contamination of water supplies, disruption of economic activities, and outbreaks of infectious diseases, all contributing to increased mortality rates.
As Ekiti intensifies its fight against flooding, strict enforcement against illegal constructions on waterways remains a key pillar in safeguarding the state’s environment and people.
