Ekiti Floods: Expert Demands Stronger Urban Planning Rules
A water resources management expert, Michael Ale, has called for stronger institutional measures to tackle the recurring flooding in Ekiti State, including the enactment of a Flood Resilience and Urban Planning Enforcement Law. Ale, Coordinator of the Global Development Initiative, said persistent flooding, particularly in Ado Ekiti, was linked to the absence of effective institutions capable of enforcing environmental and urban planning regulations and imposing sanctions on offenders. His call followed flooding recorded in parts of the state last week, which resulted in loss of lives and property and disrupted socio-economic activities. Ale said flooding in Ado Ekiti was predictable because weather authorities issue forecasts and the major waterways and causes of flooding are known. He identified building on waterways, blocked drains, inadequate dredging before the rainy season and refuse dumped in canals as major factors contributing to the problem.
Ale urged the Ekiti State House of Assembly to pass legislation requiring the annual dredging of the Ureje and Elemi rivers before March, establishing 50-metre no-build buffer zones and criminalising construction without drainage clearance. He also called for the creation of a waste management institution with powers to sanction indiscriminate dumping in drains, as well as an emergency management institution with a functional early warning system. The expert noted that Ekiti’s 30-year Development Plan already identifies flood control, sustainable urbanisation and environmental resilience as key pillars, but questioned the effectiveness of its monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. He urged the government to remain proactive and establish a committee of experts to develop a comprehensive flood-control project, citing Oyo State’s response to severe flooding and its subsequent assistance from the World Bank as a model Ekiti could explore. Ale also advised residents not to attempt crossing floodwaters during heavy rainfall, urging them to wait for the water to recede to avoid drowning and other hazards.
#UTVAfrica#
