Several persons have been rendered homeless after a heavy downpour destroyed more than 105 buildings in Oke-Ako, Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Friday.
The downpour which started at about 3pm also destroyed some electricity facilities across the town, thereby subjecting the residents to a total blackout.
While on a visit to the affected area on Saturday, the state Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye described the incident as highly devastating.
A statement on Saturday by the Special Assistant Media to the Deputy Governor, Victor Ogunje quoted Governor Biodun Oyebanji as expressing delight that no life was lost during the stormy rainfall.
“On behalf of His Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, I sympathize with you on the destruction caused by rainstorm to many residential buildings and electricity poles in this town , which we believe must have affected the wellbeing of the victims.
“Information at our disposal and on- the- spot assessment revealed that roofs of scores of residential buildings and electricity facilities were destroyed during the stormy rainfall, thereby rendering many homeless and helpless. We sympathise with the victims at this trying times and plead for calmness, in the sense that natural disaster of this nature is one occurrence that is difficult to control. But with personal precautions and right efforts, its effects can be minimised.
“That was why the Governor Oyebanji’s administration is ready to support interested individuals to go into tree planting and the programmes will soon be rolled out to safeguard our environment and minimise havocs being wreaked on our buildings by rainstorm. Tree planting is very essential.
“I observed that landlords here are not planting trees, I am not seeing them standing beside our houses. Let us inculcate the habit of tree planting to serve as wind breakers against storm.
“Let me also assure you that the state government won’t abandon you and allow you to regret in this current devastating conditions. We shall give all the necessary support to mitigate whatever effect this situation must have caused to your lives”.
