Residents of Peace Avenue, Ayemi Garage area of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Tuesday protested the flooding of their homes and properties, calling on the state government to urgently intervene in the situation.
The residents gathered around the Ayemi Bridge, where the water from the flood had reportedly swept through the area, with three persons allegedly swept away by the flood.
One of the residents, Tosin Akinwunmi, who spoke with journalists at the scene, said the flood had taken over his home and destroyed some of his valuables.
Akinwunmi said residents had been living in fear following the development, urging the government to come to their aid.
He said, “I have been a resident of this street for a while. This is Peace Avenue, Ayemi Garage. If you go to my house now, you would see that water has taken over my home and some of my valuables have been destroyed.
“We want the government to come to our aid. We are really suffering here. If you were here yesterday, you would have seen what happened.
“It is also going round that three persons were swept away by the flood at this Ayemi Bridge yesterday. That was why we blocked the road before the police got here.
“We are taxpayers and we have the right to live without fear of flood. Our intention was to protest so that the governor would come here himself to meet us.”
Speaking to journalists at the scene, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, said the government was aware of the flooding and had taken steps to mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall.
Olatunbosun said the area had experienced incessant flooding about four or five years ago but noted that such incidents had not occurred there in the last three years.
He said the government had continued excavation and other measures around flood-prone areas, adding that warnings had also been issued to residents ahead of heavy rainfall.
The commissioner, however, appealed to residents to avoid entering floodwaters, saying doing so could endanger their lives.
Olatunbosun said the government would not shirk its responsibility despite the need for residents to heed safety warnings.
He added that Governor Biodun Oyebanji had directed relevant government agencies and the Ministry of Works to inspect the area and work towards providing a more durable and reliable bridge capable of withstanding erosion and flooding.
He expressed sympathy to families affected by the incident, saying the government was concerned about the loss of lives and property.
Also speaking to journalists at the scene, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Chief(Mrs.) Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe appealed to residents to remain indoors whenever heavy rainfall resulted in flooding.
The commissioner, who expressed condolences to families of those who allegedly lost their lives, urged residents not to enter floodwaters, saying they should wait until the water receded before moving around.
She also appealed to residents to cooperate with the government in efforts to mitigate the effects of flooding across the state.
