The Ekiti State Government has pledged to roll out palliatives for victims of rainstorms that destroyed some houses at Ilokun, a farmstead in Ado Ekiti metropolis, on Saturday.
A downpour, accompanied by a heavy storm, that lasted for over two hours, destroyed over seven buildings in the community along Ado-Iworoko road, thereby rendering the victims homeless.
Speaking during a visit to the community for an on-the-spot assessment, on Monday, the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said Governor Biodun Oyebanji sympathized with the victims, promising that the government will support them to cushion the effects.
Mrs Afuye, according to a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, urged the victims to compile their lists and send them to the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (EKSEMA) for immediate action.
The Deputy Governor, who was accompanied by officials of the EKSEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), appealed to residents to embrace maintenance culture on their buildings to checkmate recurrent cases of wreckage being witnessed during rain storms.
“Let me on behalf of Governor Biodun Oyebanji sympathize with you on this unexpected occurrence. She directed me to be here for an on-the-spot assessment of the level of wreckage on your buildings.
“We thank God that no life was lost and whatever had happened to your buildings can still be repaired, but any life that was lost can’t be replaced. This is the way I want you to view this matter.
“You know that our government is pro-masses, we are going to help you in whatever way we can to cushion whatever effect this occurrence is having on you.
“We thank God that the officials of NEMA and EKSEMA are here with me. They will start acting immediately when you submit your letters to their offices.
“But I want our people to always take actions that can prevent their buildings from being blown away by storms. We must try and make the right renovations on our structures before the beginning of the rainy season.
“What we lack majorly is maintenance culture and we have to change our orientation in the interest of our safety”.
The Permanent Secretary, of EKSEMA, Mr. Jide Borode, promised that the agency will act appropriately as soon as it receives the letters.
Responding on behalf of the victims, Mr. Rasheed Akinrinade, applauded the government for deeming it to assess the level of wreckage in the community, saying this further attested to the widespread notion that Governor Oyebanji is a pro-masses leader.
Akinrinade appealed to the government to release relief materials in time to help mitigate the level of suffering of those whose houses were destroyed by heavy wind.