Ekiti Flooding: Expert Pushes for Robust Law and Enforcement

A water resources management specialist, Michael Ale, has emphasized the critical need for a more robust institutional framework, including a comprehensive urban planning enforcement law, to effectively combat the persistent issue of flooding in Ekiti State. Ale, who coordinates the Global Development Initiative, attributed the state's ongoing flood challenges to the absence of strong institutions capable of implementing regulations and penalizing those who violate them.

He specifically called on the Ekiti State House of Assembly to pass a "Flood Resilience and Urban Planning Enforcement Law." This proposed legislation, he explained, would be crucial for enhancing flood prevention measures and ensuring strict adherence to environmental and urban development guidelines.

This appeal follows recent severe flooding incidents across parts of the state, particularly in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, last week. These events led to tragic loss of lives, extensive damage to property, and significant disruption of socio-economic activities. In a statement released on Wednesday from Ado Ekiti, Ale stressed that the state urgently requires a formidable institutional structure to address this recurring problem.

"There is a need for Ekiti State to urgently create a strong institutional framework that will combat the perennial incident of flooding in the state," Ale stated. He further elaborated, "Flooding in Ado Ekiti is predictable. NIMET predicts it. The rivers are known, the causes are known – building on waterways, blocked drains, no dredging before rainy season, refuse in canals. If it is predictable and preventable, why does it happen yearly? It is because we have no institutional framework that enforces consequences."

The expert also advocated for the establishment of a dedicated waste management body with the authority to sanction individuals and entities for indiscriminate refuse disposal into drainage systems. Additionally, he proposed an emergency management institution equipped with a functional early warning system to better prepare for and respond to flood events.

In other news: Senegal has postponed its new school year due to extensive flooding and heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, an individual known as Yayi has dismissed claims of being from Ekiti as mere jesting, and Abia State has revoked an estate firm's permit over regulatory violations.

Ale highlighted that Ekiti State's 30-year Development Plan already identifies flood control, sustainable urbanization, and environmental resilience as core pillars. "But where is the Monitoring and Evaluation?" he queried. "We should adhere to such a plan so that as we develop, we do not disrupt channels that protect us from floods. Our government should be proactive in this matter."

He reiterated his call for the Ekiti State House of Assembly to enact the "Flood Resilience and Urban Planning Enforcement Law." This law, he suggested, should mandate annual dredging of the Ureje and Elemi rivers before March, establish 50-meter no-build buffer zones around waterways, and criminalize any construction undertaken without proper drainage clearance. Ale added that the state government could form an expert committee to devise a comprehensive, long-term solution to the flood problem, drawing inspiration from the approach taken in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Ale pointed out that the Oyo State Government successfully sought assistance from the World Bank after experiencing severe flooding, receiving crucial support to mitigate the issue. "Ekiti State can do the same. Let us ask for meaningful intervention," he urged.

Finally, the expert cautioned residents against attempting to traverse or move through floodwaters during heavy downpours, emphasizing the risks of drowning and other dangers. "When it is flooded, we should be patient for the water to recede before we move in it," he advised.