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The Ekiti State Government has spent over N105m to empower victims of fire disaster in the state in the last one year.
The Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, disclosed this in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday during the distribution of food materials and other consumables to 757 victims of rainstorm from Ijelu, Omu and Itapaji Ekiti in Oye Local Government Area of the state.
Afuye said that the N105m comprised N35.5m cash distributed to fire victims, N58.113m used for transportation of foodstuffs, and as well other approvals including N12m.
She said that the materials distributed on the occasion including maize, gari, knapsack sprayer, groundnut oil, clothing materials, rice and other consumables that could reduce the victims’ sufferings “were provided by the National Emergency Management Agency in partnership with the Ekiti State Government to cushion the effect of emergency on the victims.”
The deputy governor advised residents to take necessary precautions against disasters, including fire and flooding.
Afuye said, “It is worthy of note that recently, a sum of N35.5m was distributed to victims of fire disaster, while a total of N58.113m was used for transportation of grains and garri, which were distributed to citizens through the local governments and faith based groups irrespective of party affiliations.
“There are other approvals such as a sum of N12m for fire victims. Another sum of N47m is in the pipeline being processed for victims of rainstorm. On our part, we are committed to fulfilling our promises to the people in line with our policy thrust.”
She assured residents that every food palliative consignment released to the state by the Federal Government would be fairly and equitably distributed to the populace without discrimination.
She said governor Biodun Oyebanji had been making frantic efforts to tackle flooding in the state through dredging of canals and waterways.
She said, “I plead with you, when rain is falling, don’t pile your refuse inside canals or build on waterways. We know natural disaster can be difficult to prevent, but some of them are man made and we have to avoid them. Officials of Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency will soon go out to do enlightenment for you on how to prevent disasters.”
NEMA Director General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by the agency’s Head of Operations in the state, Mrs. Kofoworola Soleye, urged residents to key into the existing insurance policy for disaster management that could serve as indemnity if their property was damaged.
Also, the General Manager, Ekiti SEMA, Mr. Oludare Asaolu, said the palliatives were to assuage the feelings of the victims, saying that the government would soon unveil better and pragmatic actions to bail them out of their current situations.
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