The Coalition of Ekiti Civil Society Organisations (COECSO) has called on the Ekiti State Government to urgently adopt comprehensive flood prevention and mitigation measures following recent flooding incidents that have affected several communities in the state.
This is contained in a statement issued after its bi-monthly meeting of the group held on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, in Ado Ekiti and signed by the Chairman.
COESCO expressed concern over the reported loss of lives and destruction of property caused by flooding, particularly around Ayeyemi Garage along the Iworoko–Ado-Ekiti axis.
The coalition said its findings indicated that two Ekiti indigenes were reportedly lost in the incident, adding that the body of one of the victims was recovered on Friday, October 2, while efforts to locate the other victim were ongoing.
While acknowledging the response of the state government to the flooding situation, COECSO said the recurring nature of the disaster underscored the need for preventive measures rather than responses only after flooding had occurred.
According to the coalition, the situation in Ado-Ekiti and other affected communities has been worsened by factors including construction on waterways, blocked drainage channels, inadequate dredging and poor waste management.
It therefore urged the government to strictly enforce existing environmental and town-planning regulations, particularly against encroachment on waterways and flood-prone areas.
COECSO also appealed to residents to play their part by keeping drainage channels and waterways free from refuse, while calling on the government to provide adequate waste disposal facilities and intensify public education on flood prevention.
Among its recommendations, the coalition called for the establishment of an autonomous flood control agency to coordinate flood prevention and response across the state.
It further demanded annual dredging of the Ureje and Elemi rivers before March each year, as well as the creation and enforcement of 50-metre no-build buffer zones along rivers and other major waterways.
The civil society groups also advocated the enactment of a Flood Resilience and Urban Planning Enforcement Law to strengthen the state’s legal framework for preventing flooding and controlling development in vulnerable areas.
COECSO further urged the government to partner with civil society organisations in sustained public awareness and sensitisation campaigns aimed at changing practices that contribute to flooding.
