Residents express relief in Okitipupa over first rain

Okitipupa, Headquarters of Okitipupa Local Government Area (LGA) of Ondo State, witnessed the first rain of the year on Wednesday night.

Some residents of the town told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that on Thursday they were relieved by the rainfall.

They said the heat had become unbearable before the rainfall.

NAN reports that the 35 minutes rain began at about 9.40 p.m. and ended at about 10.15 p.m.

Mr Peter Adekanoye, a resident, expressed joy over the first rain but said he was afraid when it started with a storm.

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“I was scared at first because of the storm but later become happy because of the cold weather that accompanied the rain.

“My family and I slept well and feel relaxed; we thank God for the first rain,’’ Adekanoye said.

Mrs Comfort Olumoyegun, also said she was happy for the rain as the heat was unbearable because of the aged-long lack of electricity supply to the town.

“You know we don’t have electricity for 14 years now in Okitipupa. The heat is unbearable.

“Petrol is scarce, I can not afford N300 per litre fuel but the rain was indeed a great relief,’’ she said.

Mr Babayemi Akinnusi, a farmer said that the rain at the beginning of the third month of the year was a good sign for farmers to start preparation for planting.

“To me, I think it’s a good sign for early planting and expected bountiful harvest too that will address hunger in the land,’’ Akinusi said.

Mr Alex Akinloseyin, however, said that with the early rain, the chairman of the LGA should do the needful by repairing roads and clear the drainages in the town to check erosion.

“Most of the roads are bad while drainages are blocked, the chairman should as a matter of urgency do the needful,’’ he said.(NAN)