…..One Thousand Victims of Natural Disasters Get Government Largesse
Ekiti State Government wants residents to avoid practices that can cause natural and man induced disasters in their domains.
The Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye gave the caution in Ado-Ekiti while distributing the first batch of relief materials to one thousand victims of various disasters in the state out of over three thousand people affected by rainstorm, flood, fire outbreak and other natural disasters.
Chief Afuye listed some of the practices that could cause disasters in the state to include erecting of structures on river-banks and waterways, building shops or residences under high tension power lines as well as dropping of refuse in drainages.
” I wish to remind and encourage the general public to avoid practices that can cause natural and man-induced disasters in their environments. Our people should desist from building houses on waterways, or close to stream, riverbanks and under high tension power lines. We should stop dropping refuse on drainage during the rainfall” said Chief Afuye.
She explained that most of the disasters which had resulted in loss of livelihoods and socio-economic dislocation could be averted if people had cooperated with government to address factors responsible for the problems
The Deputy Governor who explained that the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji was poised to ensure there was the economic stability, said that the relief materials being distributed was out of genuine interest to help the vulnerable without necessarily becoming a burden to the society.
The Deputy Governor said ” the relief materials being distributed today were donated to cushion the impacts of ravaging flood on the victims in the state. It has always been the interest of the state government to assist the vuInerable people to achieve and sustain their livelihoods and self sufficient without becoming a burden to anyone”.
Chief Afuye acknowledged that the relief materials received from the federal government would improve the lives of the victims of natural disasters in Ekiti and promised that the present administration would continue to build on achievements to make life meaningful for the people.
” I appreciate the federal government and National Emergency Management Agency NEMA for their commitment to help the victims of natural disasters in Nigeria, especially in Ekiti . I must say that different intervention programmes and relief materials received from the federal government to support victims of various disasters in Ekiti have really improved their lives”.
She however directed State and National Emergency Management Agencies, SEMA and NEMA to ensure even distribution of the available materials as designed without any preferential treatment.
In an address, the Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, in charge of Ekiti and Ondo States, Mr Kadiri Olarewaju said that federal government would soon commence another intervention programmes to capture the remaining victims of natural disasters in the state.
Earlier, the General Manager, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA Mr Jide Borode listed some of the items distributed to include, rice, beans, vegetable oil, salt, mat and clothes.
Mr Borode called for more support from the federal government, corporate bodies and well meaning individuals to assist victims of natural disasters in Ekiti.
Appreciating the Federal and State Governments, some the beneficiaries including, Mr Bright Adesoye, Mr. Adebayo Omotola and Mrs Monica Odo described the gesture as timely and promised to continue to support the present administration
