The Government of Ekiti State wishes to clarify issues surrounding a trending video online where some people were said to have been swept away by flood at Ureje area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
While it is true that the heavy downpour on Tuesday afternoon led to flooding in some areas of the capital city, it is not true that three people were swept away by the flood.
The fact is that the people seen in the video screaming for help were rescued from the flood by residents of the area almost immediately.
The Government of Ekiti State is mindful of the various predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) of heavy rainfall and flooding in many parts of the country, including Ekiti State, this year and has put in place mechanism to check erosion and flooding. This include dredging of canals, construction of bridges, distillation of Culverts, improvement in disaster response and management as well as improved waste disposal system among others.
As a responsible government, we do not take all the warnings for granted. While we continue to invest in safety and security of the environment, we urge citizens of the state to cooperate with government in making the environment safe for all.
Residents are urged to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse and erecting structures on waterways as this contribute significantly to flooding. They are also advised to avoid flooded areas particularly during heavy rainfall.
Signed
Rt. Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun
Commissioner for Information
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