The Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Tuesday announced a support of N35million to people who lost their properties to fire recently.
This brings to about N100 million spent in the last 12 months as support to fire victims, the governor said.
Oyebanji, represented by the deputy governor, made this known in Ado Ekiti while distributing cheques to the second batch of victims of fire disasters in the state.
The deputy governor said that the state government in 2025 expended an aggregate of N150m to mitigate the sufferings of rainstorm victims across the 16 council areas, saying, “This humongous expenditure, shouldered by the Oyebanj administration, attests to how people-centric his government was.”
She said, “Fire disaster is one of the most devastating occurrences anyone or any family can experience. In a matter of minutes, years of hard work, investment and cherished memories can be reduced to ashes.
“We acknowledge the trauma, distress and uncertainty that such incidents bring and we deeply sympathise with every victim affected by these unfortunate events.
“No amount of money you are given can replace whatever you have lost. But Governor Oyebanji believes this intervention will provide a measure of relief and serve as a motivation for recovery, rebuilding and renewed hope.”
The General Manager, State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Oludare Asaolu, said the Oyebanji administration had been upping the game in disaster management by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency in terms of training and equipment.
Asaolu lauded Oyebanji for promptly approving funds to cater for the victims of fire and rainstorm disasters in the state, saying this accounted for why succours were being frequently provided to palliate the sufferings of those whose property was affected.
The National Emergency Management Agency’s Head of operations (Ekiti and Ondo states), Kofoworola Soneye, advised SEMA and other stakeholders to shore up campaign programmes that could help the populace in taking proactive actions to checkmate recurrent cases of disasters in the state.
Soneye said, “Disaster management is the responsibility of everybody. Everybody must be involved and if you see something, you must say something. We shouldn’t leave it to the government alone and that is why we must make ourselves the ambassadors and propagate the idea that we should be more careful in handling issues that can spark off disasters at home.”
The state Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, urged the victims to turn themselves into ambassadors in the aggressive campaign against disasters, saying their roles were pivotal to the government’s success and spirited actions to mitigate occurrences at all costs.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Idowu Oba applauded the governor for his timely intervention, urging his colleagues to spend the funds provided wisely and support Oyebanji to accomplish the task of making Ekiti safe for all citizens.
Recall that the state government in 2025 made a similar presentation to victims of a fire incident where over N50m was distributed.
The state government said, “It is our expectation that the beneficiaries will judiciously utilise this support to reestablish their livelihoods and regain stability.”
