A water resources management expert, Michael Ale, has called on the Ekiti State Government to strengthen its institutional response to flooding and consider new legislation aimed at improving urban planning, drainage management and flood prevention.

Ale, who is the Coordinator of the Global Development Initiative, made the call following heavy rainfall and flooding that affected parts of Ado-Ekiti and other areas of Ekiti State in late September.

The flooding affected roads, homes, businesses and other properties in several parts of the state capital. Reports from the incident also included accounts of people being swept away or rescued, although the number of confirmed fatalities remained disputed. The Ekiti State Government said it had not received a confirmed report of any death while acknowledging the impact of the flooding on residents and property.

Ale argued that the recurring nature of flooding around areas associated with the Ureje and Elemi waterways shows the need for a system that goes beyond emergency response after heavy rainfall.

He said the state should establish a stronger institutional framework capable of enforcing environmental and urban planning regulations, monitoring compliance and imposing penalties where necessary.

One of his major recommendations is for the Ekiti State House of Assembly to consider a Flood Resilience and Urban Planning Enforcement Law. Among the measures he proposed are mandatory annual dredging of the Ureje and Elemi waterways before the peak of the rainy season, restrictions on construction close to waterways and penalties for developments undertaken without appropriate drainage clearance.

Ale also called for stronger waste-management enforcement, arguing that indiscriminate dumping of refuse can obstruct drainage channels and increase the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.

He further advocated a more effective emergency-management structure with a functional early-warning system so residents in vulnerable areas can receive timely information and take appropriate precautions.

The expert also questioned the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation within Ekiti’s long-term development planning. He noted that the state has a 30-year development plan that includes flood control, sustainable urbanisation and environmental resilience, but argued that implementation needs to be measured more consistently.

His proposal includes publicly tracking the progress of flood-prevention measures so residents and government officials can see whether planned dredging, drainage work and urban-planning controls are actually being implemented.

Ale also urged the state to consider seeking financial and technical assistance from development partners, including the World Bank and the Federal Government, for a comprehensive flood-management programme.

He pointed to Oyo State’s experience in Ibadan as an example of how a long-term, multi-agency approach can be used to address urban flood risks. The Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project was established by the Oyo State Government with World Bank funding and technical support following the devastating August 2011 floods. Its objectives included improving flood-risk management, strengthening preparedness and financing structural measures such as drainage improvements and channel works.

World Bank documentation shows that the Ibadan project was designed around both structural and non-structural measures, including flood-risk assessment, preparedness, infrastructure improvements and institutional capacity building. The project officially closed in June 2024 after restructuring and an extension of its original implementation period.

The Ibadan experience therefore provides a reference point for Ale’s call for Ekiti to develop a broader flood-risk management programme rather than relying mainly on emergency interventions whenever flooding occurs.

There is already evidence that flood management remains a concern in Ekiti’s planning and infrastructure agenda. The state’s 2026–2028 medium-term sector strategy includes a planned rehabilitation of the Ureje Dam in Ado-Ekiti, with funding allocated across the 2026–2028 period.

The Ekiti State Government has also acknowledged the recent flooding and urged residents to exercise caution as heavy rainfall continues. The government said it had acted on forecasts from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and had carried out public sensitisation ahead of the rains. It also urged residents to report blocked drains and rising water levels and warned against constructing on waterways, drainage setbacks and flood-prone areas.

NiMet’s own rainfall information has identified Ado-Ekiti among locations where rainfall onset can occur earlier than normal, underscoring the importance of preparedness and timely warnings in the state.

Ale’s intervention therefore places emphasis on prevention as much as response. His recommendations include stronger town-planning controls, improved drainage and waterway maintenance, waste-management enforcement, early-warning systems and a monitoring framework that can track whether flood-control commitments are being implemented.

He also advised residents to avoid attempting to cross floodwaters during periods of heavy rainfall, urging people in affected areas to wait until conditions become safe rather than exposing themselves to unnecessary danger.

The latest flooding has once again brought attention to the challenge facing Ado-Ekiti as urban development, drainage management, waste disposal and extreme rainfall intersect. Whether through new legislation, stronger enforcement, infrastructure investment or external technical support, the debate is increasingly shifting towards how Ekiti can reduce flood risks before the next major rainfall event.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia