In line with the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration’s commitment to the welfare of Oyo state citizens, The state government in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA), Thursday distributed relief materials to victims of the 2019 rain storm and flood disaster in Afijio local government.
The relief materials distribution was supervised by the state Deputy Governor Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, at the premises of Afijio local government council in Oyo town.
The state’s second in command said that the local government councils have been enjoined to constitute Local Emergency Management committees so that disaster management will be localised in order to ensure that the grassroot can promptly react to natural disasters.
The state government partnered with the National Emergency Management Agency to give succour to over 300 residents in Afijio who lost properties and means of livelihood during the storm and flood disaster.
The Deputy Governor further enjoined residents to ensure they do not engage in activities that can cause flood disasters stating that activities such as blockage of water ways with refuse, buildings and inadequate drainage systems are human activities that can increase the chances of such disaster.
He appealed to them to embrace environmentally sustainable activities like planting of trees and recycling of waste in a way that saves our planet from adverse climate change and global warming.
Engineer Olaniyan urged affected residents to put the disasters in the past where it is and make necessary efforts to integrate into the society because only an healthy mind can help in national development.
In their separate remarks, the Directors of the State Emergency Management Agency SEMA and the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA, Mr Lukman Arasi and Mr Siaku Lugard said that both agencies have been working hand in hand to ensure that disasters that are avertable are prevented to ensure the safety of lives and properties.
They also enjoined individuals to make the best use of the items given to them, be law abiding and take precautionary measures to prevent flood.
The relief materials distributed include food items, beddings and building materials.
