Over 100,000 people in 24 communities including Makurdi, the state capital, have been displaced by flood in recent months, the Benue State Emergency M
Over 100,000 people in 24 communities including Makurdi, the state capital, have been displaced by flood in recent months, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said. Following heavy rains which began on Sunday, August 27, more houses have been affected by the flood with over 3,000 houses submerged.
Unfortunately, victims said they are yet to get any form of help from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Three days after the Makurdi metropolis was caught up in floods, houses were seen to have submerged up to lintel level while over 100 vehicles were trapped in the flood between the Housing Estate and Achusa districts of the state capital. Some residents pushed their cars to safety along Doo Palace road in Achusa while others were salvaging household items into waiting vans for possible relocation from the flood.
Meanwhile, the state commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Mr Joseph Utsev has urged the Federal Government to include Benue among states to benefit from the N1.6 billion ecological intervention fund. Utsev said that since 2013, the state had not received any ecological assistance from the Federal Government. He said that if adequate budgetary provisions were made, many disasters may be mitigated since natural disasters could only be controlled. The commissioner said that dredging the River Benue would provide permanent solution to the recurring flood in the state.
“Benue Government is looking for ways in which River Benue can be dredged; this is because by dredging the river, majority of the water can be accommodated and thus, prevent future overflow. The ongoing research so far, shows that the preliminary study would cost about N8 billion while the main project would gulp about N300 billion. And this is where we need Federal Government financial intervention to execute the project, since the funds are much,’’ he said.
However, a cross section of Makurdi residents accused the Benue State Government of doing little to protect the citizens from flood disaster over the years. A resident said that since the 2012 flood disaster, government has done little to mitigate the situation apart from talking. The resident said that the perennial flood disaster was an opportunity for some government officials to get free money and relief materials to divert.
The resident added that government was yet to open camp for IDPs in the state. But government officials involved in emergency management are still awaiting the governor’s approval to open IDPs camps.
The Akume led administration awarded a N2.2 billion contract to CAD Nigeria Limited for the construction of water drainage channel that will control all the running waters down to River Benue but the project was abandoned. Over 4000 households were submerged, property worth millions destroyed and scores died in the 2012 flood disaster.
NAN
