Ondo State Government has assured victims of flood disaster in the riverine communities of Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government areas of the state of timely assistance.

The Chief of Staff to the Ondo State Governor, Chief Olugbenga Ale gave the assurance in Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government area while on the spot assessment to places affected by the floods in the council areas.

The State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu had constituted two separate committees to visit the flood -ravaged areas in the two local government areas.

The committees are expected to ascertain the extent of damage, come up with recommendations on how to mitigate the effects of the natural disaster on owners of damaged property and equally advice on how to avert future occurrence.

In his remark on the degree of devastation, Chief Ale regretted that it was beyond what the State Government could single-handedly address, but assured that Governor Akeredolu would work to secure the attention of Federal Government through the National Emergency Maintenance Agency (NEMA) to come to the aid of the affected people.

“We are here on the order of Mr Governor, to identify passionately with our people as a result of this unfortunate incident and to take stock of the damage to their property. Despite the devastating nature of the flood, we are glad no life has been reported lost.

“We are expecting NEMA to come to the aid of the people, but it will depend on the quality of the report we are preparing, which will convince them to assist the individuals and corporate bodies affected,” he said.

At the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government where the committee members were conducted round the council by its Care-taker Committee Chairman, Mr. Otito Atikase, the Chief of Staff sympathized with the workers who have stopped coming to work consequent upon the flooding of their offices and which had paralysed business activities.

Describing the floods as disaster too enormous for the people to bear, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Oyebo Aladetan, said the State would not leave the people to carry the cross alone.

He said it was in a bid to determine the devastating effects of the natural occurrence that the Governor constituted the two committees which he said would advise government dispassionately through its report on steps to ameliorate the effects of the flood on the people.

The Olu of Igbokoda, Oba Afolabi Odidiomo, whose palace grounds were flooded, attributed the incidence to global warming and construction of structures on waterways.

The royal father suggested the construction of embankment in Ayetoro and Awoye in Ese-Odo Local Government area, with the fear that the sea might overflow its banks.

Across the two local government areas, the flood victims appealed to government at all levels to come to their rescue by providing necessary relief materials for them to cushion the effects of the natural disaster.

The Ese-Odo team visited many coastal communities including Pinama, Tehagbene, Biagbene, Adolosemon 1-3, Ebikiri Model College, Opunama High School, Ajapa, FAC Primary HealthCare Centre, Ajapa, Amatebe, LA Pry School, Bolowo, Ukparama Grammar School Bolowo, New Jerusalem, Arogbo, Agadagba-Obon, Igbobini, Sabomi, Igbotu, Oluagbo, among others.

The story is the same in all the communities visited as all the communities, including primary and secondary schools, health facilities and churches which were totally submerged by flood, sacking all residents and school children in the affected areas.

Displaced residents whose belongings and valuables such as mattresses, clothes, electronic appliances, and foodstuffs were badly affected were seen cooking on the road and sleeping under makeshift tents.

Talk is cheap...