Edo State House of Assembly member, Idaiye Yekini, has issued an urgent plea to the Edo State government and national relief agencies to provide immediate assistance to residents of Akoko-Edo Local Government Area, whose homes were devastated by a recent rainstorm. The storm, which struck on March 3rd, reportedly destroyed over 100 houses across six communities.
Yekini, representing Akoko-Edo 1 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), raised the issue during a plenary session on Monday, citing it as a matter of public importance. He detailed the widespread damage in Ojirami, Oja, Dagbala, Ososo, Akuku, and Ate, emphasizing that the storm has displaced numerous families.
“The rain storm affected six communities in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area in the state, displacing families from their homes,” Yekini stated, underscoring the urgent need for intervention. He passionately appealed to his fellow lawmakers to support his call for aid.
The motion received widespread support from other members of the Assembly, many of whom expressed their sympathy for the victims. Several lawmakers also revealed that similar destructive rainstorms had impacted communities within their own constituencies. They echoed Yekini’s call for swift action, urging relevant authorities to provide immediate relief materials and support to alleviate the suffering of affected residents.
Beyond immediate relief, the lawmakers collectively emphasized the importance of long-term preventative measures. They advocated for local governments to actively promote tree planting initiatives within their jurisdictions, highlighting the crucial role trees play in acting as natural buffers against the force of future rainstorms.
Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, expressed deep empathy for the victims and reinforced the significance of proactive measures such as tree planting to mitigate the effects of these destructive weather events.
The House unanimously passed a resolution urging the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and other relevant organizations to provide comprehensive assistance to those affected by the recent rainstorm disaster.
