The Ekiti State Government, through the Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency (EKSEMA), has ramped up efforts to improve disaster preparedness and response across the state.

The General Manager of EKSEMA, Mr. Oludare Asaolu who made this known in Ado-Ekiti while featuring on Ekiti Loni /Ekiti Today, a live audience participation Programme on radio said the State Government was putting a lot of resources into preventing disasters which he said was a much better option than disaster management noting that when disasters occur, lives and property are usually negatively affected.

According to him, proactive steps put in place by the Administration of Governor Oyebanji to prevent disasters particularly flooding include dredging of water ways, desiltation and expansion of drainages, enforcement of proper building control mechanism, removal of illegal structures along river channels, improved waste management strategies and other steps by relevant agencies of Government

He said apart from these, EKSEMA had carried out massive advocacy and sensitization campaigns aimed at educating residents on safety measures during both the rainy and dry seasons on ways of preventing fire outbreaks and flood.

The EKSEMA boss disclosed that the Agency has held awareness campaigns across the three senatorial districts of the state to sensitize critical Stakeholders and the people on ways of preventing man-made disasters such as fire outbreak and ameliorating the effects of natural disasters like flooding and rainstorms

He said in addition, the agency has produced and aired radio jingles to reach the people of the State particularly those at the grassroots communities more effectively.

Mr. Asaolu commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his proactive support, especially in the aftermath of recent rainstorms that affected several towns in the State.
He disclosed that assessment teams under the supervision of the State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye had visited affected areas across the State and had made recommendations urging victims of disaster to exercise patience as help was on the way

He recalled that the Governor Oyebanji recently approved the recent disbursement of ₦50 million to assist fire victims for the 2024/2025 season.

This according to EKSEMA Boss is coming on the heels of the disbursement of N35m to over 50 victims of fire accidents in the state in July 2024 to provide respite for them and restore their losses.

He further advised residents to adopt safety practices such as planting trees around their homes to serve as windbreakers and to always turn off electrical appliances when not in use as power surge has been identified as a major cause of fire disasters in the State

Reaffirming the agency’s commitment, Mr. Asaolu stated that EKSEMA would continue to prioritize public education and implement proactive strategies to minimize the impact of natural disasters in Ekiti State.

He disclosed that the collaborative efforts between the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency initiated by Governor Oyebanji in 2024 to bolster the State’s response to disaster and emergency management and safeguard the lives of the citizens is on course.

According to Asaolu, the Oyebanji Administration has strengthened partnership with LASEMA in terms of personnel training as teams of experts from Ekiti have visited Lagos on several occasions to understudy LASEMA and domesticate part of their operations and gather more experience in disaster management

He said the team also attended a workshop tagged: ‘Strengthening Flood Resilience in Vulnerable Communities in Lagos State’ to further expose EKSEMA’s experts and operators to modern techniques and innovations in disaster mitigation and management.

The SEMA boss also disclosed that the Ekiti State Early Warning and Early Response System (EWERS) as well as the Ekiti Safe City Project, a security initiative implemented by the State Government to enhance safety and security in the state through the use technology, including surveillance cameras, to improve crime detection, reduce crime rates, and enhance traffic management were on course.

He disclosed that a toll free EWERS emergency line was already active.