A devastating flood has destroyed the poultry farm of Mr. Akomolafe Mayowa Peter, a 56-year-old man with a physical disability, in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, wiping out his investment and leaving him in serious financial distress.
Mr. Akomolafe, who lives in Ikingbinsin Community, Ado-Ekiti, is married with four children, three of whom are university undergraduates. He works at Crown Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, and established the poultry business behind his residence as an additional source of income to support his family.
Speaking with Inclusive News Network (INN), Mr. Akomolafe said the flood completely destroyed all 150 four-week-old broiler chickens in his poultry farm, leaving nothing behind. He recalled breaking down in tears when he discovered the extent of the destruction.
“I cried because everything I worked so hard for was gone. The broilers were completely wiped out. Nothing was left,” he said.
Mr. Akomolafe disclosed that he had already invested close to ₦760,000 in the poultry project before the disaster occurred. According to him, he normally raises the birds to seven weeks before selling them to eateries and other customers.
He further revealed that he obtained a ₦1.5 million cooperative loan to finance the poultry business, making the loss even more devastating as he now faces the challenge of repaying the loan without any income from the investment.
The incident has drawn concern from the Disability Not A Barrier Initiative, which described the disaster as another example of the disproportionate impact of climate-related flooding on persons with disabilities.
The organisation appealed to the Ekiti State Government, under the leadership of Governor Biodun Oyebanji, to urgently come to Mr. Akomolafe’s aid. It also called on the Ekiti State Special Education and Social Inclusion Office, led by Hon. Adetoun Funmilayo Agboola, Obanise Akin Olugbenga, and the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to provide immediate assistance to help him recover from the loss and rebuild his livelihood.
According to the group, timely intervention is necessary not only to ease the financial burden but also to prevent the victim from slipping into depression following the destruction of his investment.
Appealing to government, corporate organisations, philanthropists, and well-meaning Nigerians, Mr. Akomolafe pleaded for support to enable him to recover from the devastating loss.
“I want people to help me with whatever they can to enable me recover from this loss,” he appealed.
The Disability Not A Barrier Initiative also urged governments at all levels to strengthen inclusive disaster response and climate resilience measures to ensure that persons with disabilities receive adequate protection and support before, during, and after climate-related emergencies. The organisation expressed hope that timely intervention would help Mr. Akomolafe rebuild his business and restore hope for his family.
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