Idowu Adebomi, Ado Ekiti
The people of Ekiti State are still counting their loses aftermath the destructive rain that rendered many homeless and properties worth millions of naira destroyed.
The 26th of April 2025 started like a normal day in Ekiti especially in Ado Ekiti the state capital. Many people had gone out to transact the daily business with majority attending parties popularly known as ‘Owanbe’ when the sky suddenly turned black and the rain poured down for hours bringing with it strong winds that eventually destroyed properties in the state capital.
The destruction was so severe that Hon. Femi Bamisile serving in the house of representatives called on the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) to treat the massive rainstorm disaster as a national emergency.
The former Ekiti Assembly speaker expressed regret over the incidence that had rendered hundreds of people homeless, with many losing their means of livelihoods due to the high level of wreckage witnessed in the capital city’s commercial buildings.
Many residential, commercial and public institutions, were damaged by the ravaging tornado that accompanied a torrential downpour in Ado Ekiti, on Saturday, which has become a source of worry to the state government and spirited individuals.
“NEMA as a federal government agency must treat such calamity as a national emergency. Several towns like Ifaki, Ipoti, Owatedo, Ejiyan, Iyin Ekiti and host of others, had earlier been ravaged by the same disaster before that of Ado Ekiti, that was devastating and disturbing.
The lawmaker called on NEMA to swiftly come to the aid of those affected by treating it as a national emergency.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has lamented the massive destruction of properties during the Saturday’s torrential downpour in Ado Ekiti while also sympathising with the victims and pledged the government support for those who were enmeshed in the web of destruction of timely interventions to rebuild their damaged structures.
Worst hit by the tornado were residential buildings, commercial structures, public institutions, while electrical facilities were not spared by the stormy rainfall, as many poles and telecommunication masts were pulled down by the furious wind.
While touring the sections affected on Sunday to evaluate the level of wreckage, Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said he was happy that there were no casualties during the torrential and stormy downpour.
The governor posited that while some structures experienced partial damage, it was a complete sweeping for the rooftops and the entire structures in some places, which he said would automatically subject the owners to emergency financial burden.
Oyebanji applauded the Ado Ekiti traditional institution for demonstrating concerns over the incidence, by making representation to tour the metropolis to appraise the level of destruction.
The governor assured that his government being pro-masses, won’t abandon the victims in subduing the emergency shock occasioned by the disaster that rendered hundreds homeless and destroyed commercial centres.
