Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
The Oyo state government in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), recently distributed relief materials to not less than 520 victims of the flood disaster in the Kajola and Iwajowa local government areas of Oyo State.
While distributing the materials at the premises of the Kajola local government council Okeho,the deputy governor of Oyo state, Engineer Rauf Olaniyan, asserted that the state government is resolute to its agenda of improving the lives and living conditions of citizens.
The Deputy Governor who doubles as the chairman of the Oyo state Emergency Management Agency SEMA said the government will keep assisting victims while emphasising on the need to take proactive steps to prevent such occurrence in the future.
Engineer Olaniyan who spoke through his senior Special Assistant on Political Matters, Alh Lateef Yusuf, stressed the need for all to embrace peace, enchew violence and channel all grievances to the appropriate quarters as the government is an attentive one.
The state number two man enjoined the general public to desist from any practice that could cause fire disaster in this dry season, stressing that kindling a little fire could end up getting wild and ravaging valuables in the community.
Engineer Olaniyan encouraged the victims to rise from the ruins and pick up from where they stopped before the incident and contribute their quota to national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, the South West Zonal Coordinator, Mr Slaku Lugard enjoined all local government authorities to constitute Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMC) so that disaster management will be localised and institutionalised.
Mr Lugard also said that the LEMCs will make on the spot assessment of situations possible and emergency intervention will be prompt and speedy since the LEMC will be readily available to feed the state and federal agencies with immediate information.
In his opening address, the administrative secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency, Alh Lukman Aransi advised the people of Oyo state to be safety conscious and pit necessary preventive mechanism in place to prevent emergencies and disasters.
The relief materials distributed includes food items, bedding materials and building materials among other items.
