In a determined bid to restore their losses and offer them respite in a time of trial, the Ekiti State Government, has disbursed a whopping sum of N35 million to over 50 victims of fire accidents in the state.

The government described the philanthropic gesture as part of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s strategic and calculated measures to mitigate the negative effects of emergency situations on victims in the state.

The Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, said these in Ado Ekiti, on Thursday, while distributing the funds to beneficiaries, who were victims of fire accidents between September, 2023 and March, 2024.

Mrs Afuye, in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, urged the beneficiaries not to despair despite their situations, saying the government decided to offer them emotional and financial support to stabilise them to regain their losses.

Besides these support, Mrs Afuye, revealed that a sum of N47 million, had been approved by Governor Oyebanji for victims of rainstorm, while N12.3 million will soon be disbursed to another round of victims of fire disaster across the state, which signposted how committed the government was to liberate the distressed.

To mitigate the exponential and alarming increase in fire accidents in Ekiti, she promised that the state government will soon organise a training across the state to further broaden the horizons of the people on how to curb fire incidences .

The Deputy Governor stated that though the funds disbursed might not be suffice to rebuild their property that were engulfed by inferno, but pointed out that it will offer succour at this trying time.

“Some people are still in the habit of blocking the waterways with debris and refuse, thereby causing flooding and destruction of property. They must desist from these dangerous acts.

“The government is not happy with these unpleasant occurrences. However, Governor Oyebanji is assuring the people that prompt intervention will be given to any hardship that may occur through natural or man made disasters.

“Our determination is to make the people fit to contribute to economic development of our dear state. We must take precautions at all times. While going out, we must switch off our electrical appliances and avoid bush burning during dry season and storage of petrol in residential buildings during scarcity”, she advised.

Saluting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strong anti-poverty policy, Mrs Afuye, said: “On behalf of the government, we appreciate the FG for distributing assorted foods to vulnerable people across the state. We also salute NEMA for collaborating to boost emergency management in our dear state”.

The General Manager, State Emergency Management Agency, Oludare Asaolu, said the governor was saddened by the events of fire accidents that ravaged some property in the state, calling on the victims to take the situations with equanimity and hope for the best.

Asaolu advised the residents to always take precautionary measures like putting off all electrical appliances and gas cylinder appropriately before leaving their residences for their respective offices or farms.

Describing partnership as the best way to tackle disasters, the National Emergency Management Agency’s Head of Operations, Ekiti and Ondo, Mr. Kofoworola Soleye, saluted Governor Oyebanji’s government for collaborating NEMA to give succour to the victims of emergency in the state.

In her submission, the Head of Service, Mrs Folakemi Olomojobi, saluted the governor for being passionate about the welfare of the populace, advising the residents to equip their residential and commercial buildings with fire fighting materials that can help mitigate these occurrences.

Saluting the government on behalf of the victims, Elder Michael Ajayi, said the government’s gesture would help in boosting their morales and help regain their losses.

Dignitaries at the event were: The Commissioner for Information, Hon Taiwo Olatunbosun, Head of Service, Folakemi Olomojobi, Director General, Office of Community Communications, Mrs Mary Oso- Omotoso , Permanent Secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr. Abayomi Opeyemi, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Victor Adeniyi, among others.