The Ekiti State Government has warned residents against attempting to cross flooded roads, bridges, streams and other water channels as heavy rainfall continues to trigger flooding in parts of the state.
The warning was issued by the State Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, following flooding recorded in Ado-Ekiti and other parts of the state, which affected properties, businesses and livelihoods.
Olatunbosun specifically cautioned motorists, commercial transport operators, motorcycle riders and pedestrians against underestimating the dangers posed by floodwaters, urging them to use alternative routes or remain in safe locations until the water recedes.
He also advised parents and guardians to keep children away from flooded drainage channels, riverbanks and other areas where fast-moving water could pose a danger.
The Commissioner urged residents to seek shelter in safe and elevated locations during heavy rainfall, stressing that seemingly shallow floodwater could conceal dangerous conditions and should not be assumed to be safe for crossing.
He expressed the government’s sympathy to residents whose properties and means of livelihood were affected by the flooding, while urging the public to remain calm and cooperate with relevant authorities.
Olatunbosun said the government had anticipated the possibility of intense rainfall and commenced sustained public sensitisation based on weather forecasts issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
According to him, the sensitisation was aimed at encouraging residents to monitor weather forecasts, avoid vulnerable areas and take necessary precautions during periods of heavy rainfall.
He disclosed that he had addressed residents protesting around the Pathfinder/Ayemi Garage area along the Iworoko Road, where flooding had raised concerns among residents and road users.
The Commissioner added that he also appeared on a simulcast programme to explain the flooding situation, government interventions and safety measures expected of residents.
Olatunbosun noted that flooding caused by intense rainfall was not peculiar to Ekiti, as similar incidents had been reported in parts of Akure, Osun, Oyo, Lagos and Delta states, as well as other parts of the world.
He said the incidents highlighted the increasingly unpredictable nature of extreme weather events and reinforced the need for residents to take weather warnings seriously.
The Commissioner assured residents that the Ekiti State Government, under the leadership of Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, would continue to implement measures aimed at mitigating flooding and protecting lives and property.
