Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has urged residents to plant trees around their homes as windbreakers that can help protect structures against damage from strong winds during heavy rainfall.
He made the appeal after inspecting storm-damaged buildings in Itapaji Ekiti, where over 50 people were left homeless. ‘Tree planting can help break the force of strong winds during heavy rainfall,’ Oyebanji stressed.
The governor’s appeal comes after a destructive storm in Itapaji Ekiti, Ikole Local Government Area, destroyed at least 10 buildings, including a public institution. Oyebanji emphasized the importance of tree planting in preventing such damage and promised government support for those affected.
While assessing the damage in the town, Deputy Governor Monisade Afuye, representing Governor Biodun Oyebanji, expressed concern over the frequent incidents of building destruction. The governor emphasized the need for property owners to properly maintain their buildings to prevent or minimize such disasters.
The governor sympathized with the victims and promised that the state government would provide support to those who lost their homes in the devastating rainstorm. He acknowledged the distressing impact of the disaster and assured the affected individuals of the government’s commitment to providing assistance.
“This is one occurrence that was heart-rending, very devastating. I have never seen any rainstorm of this extent. Not long ago, we went to inspect some buildings that were destroyed at Ijelu and Omu Ekiti in Oye Local Government. The reoccurrence of this kind of incidence was becoming worrisome to us as a government.
“We thank God that nobody died, but losing property under this avoidable situation is painful. We want our people to embrace tree planting around their houses. Trees are windbreakers that can help us protect our structures against damage.
“Besides tree planting, we should endeavour to carry out regular turnaround maintenance on our buildings. This is very essential to prevent us from losing our buildings to rainstorms”, Oyebanji stated.
The Governor personally visited the home of a 120-year-old victim, Chief Ajayi Fabunmi to sympathise with her over the wreckage of her building.
Conducting the governor and other officials around the wreckage, the Olu of Itapaji, Oba Abdulazees Adebanjo, applauded the state governor for showing compassion to the victims, particularly, the expeditious way with which he visited the community.
Oba Adebanjo, represented by Oluketu of Itapaji, Chief Olaoye Olusesan, pleaded with the government to speedily grant the requests of the victims and give support that could bail them out of their current precarious situation.
Speaking about other facilities that could add modernity to the agrarian community, the monarch appealed to the government to restore electricity to the community that had been in perpetual darkness for about 20 years.
“The last time we had an electricity supply here in Itapaji was 2008. This has affected our local economy. Some of those who were into private businesses had either folded up or left the town. We need help in this regard”, the monarch said.
