Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has charged landlords to maintain their buildings as the rainy season approaches, following a rainstorm that wreaked havoc on over 50 buildings in Ipoti, Ejiyan, Owatedo, and Odo Owa Ekiti, in Ijero Local Government Area, on Wednesday evening.
Buildings affected include residential buildings, shops, and educational institutions.
Oyebanji said regular maintenance of facilities on old buildings remains the best option to avert annual rainstorms being experienced in some towns, thereby rendering many homeless and causing significant economic losses.
Oyebanji gave the charge in the affected communities on Thursday during an on-the-spot assessment of the buildings blown off by the hurricane on Wednesday during a stormy downpour in the communities.
The governor, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief Monisade Afuye, sympathised with the victims and promised to initiate a process that will lend a helping hand for them to repair their damaged buildings in record time.
He bemoaned the consistent rainstorms being witnessed in Ekiti and how many were being rendered homeless on account of this depressive occurrence.
According to him, “I am really saddened seeing people being homeless as a result of rainstorms. Moving around the town, you could see that the disaster was too much. We are promising you on behalf of the government that the officers of the State Emergency Management Agency will visit here and do the enumeration of the buildings and value the damage. We are going to help you, God shall heal your wounds.
“When something like this happened at Oke Ako Ekiti, the governor approved about N50m to rebuild the damaged buildings, likewise other towns like Ijesa Isu, Omu, and Ijelu communities.
“Though we thank God that there is no loss of lives, that is our joy in this matter. The ruins were much, but we needed rain to make our lives and farming flourish. But we have to do what is necessary to prevent damage to our buildings.”
Applauding the government for the swift action, the Olupoti of Ipoti, Oba Oladipupo Kolade, and Oloja-Owa of Owatedo, Oba Adebayo Adewole, described the calamity as heartrending, saying it is necessary for people to manage their buildings to resolve such crises.
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