It is becoming worrisome that Ado-Ekiti, our dear State Capital, gets flooded from East to West and North to South at the slightest heavy rainfall.
My people, this is no longer just about heavy rain. This is about urban planning, drainage capacity, environmental management, and the standard of our road constructions.
I have said it before, the next Commissioner for Environment must be a thorough professional, not a ceremonial office holder. Environmental issues need experts who can identify problems, investigate the source, and act before it becomes a disaster.
For almost a year now, there has been a foul and dangerous odour within the state capital without any clear identification of its source. Now, we are faced with flooding in Ado at every significant rainfall.
We must ask the hard questions:
Who is supervising our road projects?
Were proper hydrological studies, soil tests, and Environmental Impact Assessments done before these roads were constructed?
What is the capacity of our drainage systems compared to the volume of water that flows during heavy rain?
A road is not just asphalt. A standard road must come with standard drainage, erosion control, and proper channelization.
Government must move from reactive response to preventive planning. We cannot continue to waste public funds repairing the same failed infrastructure when the root cause was not addressed.
EKITI STATE MUST AVOID WASTE.
Beyond Ado-Ekiti, development must be spread. Our rural communities must grow into well-planned towns with good infrastructure and opportunities. Development should not be concentrated only in the capital.
BUILD THE CAPITAL.
DEVELOP THE COMMUNITIES.
PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.
PROTECT THE PEOPLE.
As Ekiti clocks 30, we must move from just sharing to building.
Comr. Ajayi Adewale Victor
Concerned Ekiti Citizen
