By Ayodele Abere
The Ekiti State House of Assembly has commenced a broad stakeholder consultation to develop lasting solutions to the recurring menace of rainstorms, flooding, erosion and other environmental disasters across the state.
The public hearing was organised on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti by the House Committee on Environment, following the increasing devastation caused by natural disasters in several communities.
Addressing the gathering, the Chairman of the Committee and lawmaker representing Ilejemeje Constituency, Hon. Iyabo Fakunle-Okieimen, said the initiative followed the House’s deliberation during plenary on April 21, 2026, after widespread reports of destructive rainstorms and flooding across Ekiti.
She stated that the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Stephen Aribasoye, had mandated the Committee to engage relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, environmental experts, professional bodies, traditional institutions, community leaders, civil society organisations, and the public in developing practical and sustainable strategies.
According to her, the objective is to formulate legislative and policy interventions to mitigate recurring incidents of rainstorms, building collapses, erosion, flooding and other environmental hazards.
Fakunle-Okieimen noted that recent rainstorms had destroyed residential and commercial buildings, schools, healthcare facilities, electricity installations, roads and other public infrastructure.
“Beyond the physical damage, these disasters have displaced families, disrupted businesses and economic activities, endangered lives, and imposed severe emotional and financial burdens on affected residents,” she said.
She added that the Speaker had emphasised the urgent need to encourage afforestation and discourage indiscriminate deforestation, noting that protecting forests and natural vegetation remains one of the most effective ways of reducing environmental degradation and climate-related disasters.
Citing the recent incident at Apo, Ado-Ekiti, where an Okada rider was swept away by floodwaters, the Chairman stressed the need to strengthen environmental management systems and disaster preparedness.
“This public hearing provides a unique platform for stakeholders to present experiences, professional opinions, and practical recommendations to assist the House in formulating effective interventions,” she said.
The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Taiwo Olatunbosun, said the administration of Governor Biodun Oyebanji had adopted a proactive approach to environmental protection since 2022.
Responding to concerns raised by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, on possible flash floods, he disclosed that Governor Oyebanji constituted a committee shortly after assuming office to investigate recurring flooding. The committee’s report identified flood-prone areas and recommended measures, which the government has begun implementing through funding and sustained interventions.
Olatunbosun said the government had intensified dredging, desilting and excavation of waterways and drainage channels, alongside public enlightenment on environmental safety. He warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels, building on watercourses, and other practices that worsen flooding.
The General Manager, Ekiti State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr. Oludare Asaolu, said the agency had intensified sensitisation across the state.
He noted that while rainstorms cannot be prevented, their effects can be minimised through planning and responsible practices. He decried the dumping of refuse into waterways and recommended the removal of illegal structures obstructing water flow, greater investment in afforestation, and stronger conservation efforts.
