During a recent Senate session, discussions turned to the catastrophic flooding that has devastated Ondo town, sparking urgent calls for action. On Tuesday, the Senate urged the Ondo State Government to promptly assess the flood-affected areas, seeking to find lasting solutions to the persistent flooding issues that plague these communities.
Senators also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to swiftly deliver relief materials to those displaced by the flooding in Ondo West Local Government Area. Additionally, the Senate reached out to the Federal Ministry of Power, asking for the timely restoration of electricity by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to the impacted regions. There was a strong insistence that the federal government must develop a quick and effective response to such natural disasters.
These resolutions were prompted by a motion from Senator Adeniyi Adegbonmire, SAN, representing Ondo Central. Adegbonmire spoke passionately about the disaster, highlighting that severe rainfall on October 4, 2024, had impacted over 1,000 homes, 25 schools, and 20 places of worship, leaving more than 7,000 people homeless.
He described the extensive destruction across various communities in the Ondo Central Senatorial District, identifying areas including Itanla, Oka, Odojomu, Oke-Odunwo, among others, all part of Ondo West Local Government Area.
Adegbonmire expressed deep sorrow over the flooding’s effects, particularly on vulnerable populations such as women, children, and the elderly. “Some children have gone missing, and property worth millions has been lost,” he stated. “Residents are now homeless, with their houses and vehicles submerged.”
He articulated the severe challenges this disaster has posed to the most vulnerable community members, including children, the elderly, and small business owners. The senator underscored his profound concern for the impacts on shelter, security, food, medical care, and the overall economic stability of those affected.
“This situation, worsened by the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods, has further strained the already tough economic conditions for the victims,” Adegbonmire remarked. “I strongly believe that the government’s primary responsibility is to ensure the security and welfare of its citizens, as outlined in Section 14 (2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Immediate action is essential.”