The Ekiti State Government has disbursed N35m to over 50 victims of fire accidents in the state to provide respite for them and restore their losses.
The Deputy Governor, Mrs Monisade Afuye, on Thursday, supervised the disbursement to victims of fire incidents between September 2023 and March 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje.
The Deputy Governor urged the beneficiaries not to despair despite their situations, saying, “The government decided to offer you emotional and financial support to stabilise you to regain their losses.”
Afuye said, “Governor Biodun Oyebanji has approved N47m for victims of the rainstorm, while N12.3m will soon be disbursed to another round of victims of fire disaster across the state. These show how committed the government is to liberate the distressed.”
She said the government would organise training across the state to enlighten the people on how to curb fire incidences, to mitigate the alarming increase in fire accidents in the state.
She said that though the funds disbursed might not be enough to rebuild their property engulfed by the inferno, it would, however, offer succour.
The Deputy Governor warned those in the habit of blocking the waterways with debris and refuse, asking them to desist from the acts.
“We must take precautions at all times. While going out, we must switch off our electrical appliances and avoid bush burning during the dry season and storage of petrol in residential buildings during scarcity,” she advised.
The deputy governor lauded the National Emergency Management Agency for collaborating to boost emergency management in the state.
The General Manager of the State Emergency Management Agency, Oludare Asaolu, advised residents to always take precautionary measures such as putting off all electrical appliances and gas cylinders before leaving their residences for their respective offices or farms.
The Head of Operations, Ekiti and Ondo States, NEMA, Mr Kofoworola Soleye, saluted the state government for collaborating with NEMA to give succour to victims of emergency in the state.
One of the beneficiaries, Elder Michael Ajayi, who spoke on behalf of other victims, said the gesture would help in boosting their morale and help regain their losses.