September 4, (THEWILL) – The torrential rain fall that lasted for several hours on Monday, has rendered residents of Achusa, Wurukum and Gboko road settlements homeless, as many houses were submerged.
This is coming shortly after the Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Mr Ogwu Odoh, called on residents of Makurdi metropolis to relocate to safer areas to avert disaster.
When our correspondent visited Wurukum market, along Makurdi-Gboko road, traders were seen scooping water out of their shops, while Benue Links and Mass Transit Parks were not left out.
The ongoing road construction work by TRACTA company at Akpehe and behind former NITEL office in Makurdi, have compounded the woes of residents, as sand have blocked the drainages, thereby, channelling water into residential houses.
Business activities at both Wurukum and Wadata rice Mills were halted due to overflow of water into premises.
Comrade Edeh, who was battling to move his vehicle out of the water, challenged the present administration of governor Hyacinth Alia, to impress on the Federal Government to dredge river Benue as a panacea for persistent flooding in the state.
A victim, a resident of Achusa settlement, Engr Benedict Lijam, said the water flow could be channeled from the Peugeot Assembly plant from Kanshio to River Benue, only if drainages are constructed.
“As of 8:00 pm on Monday, no single vehicle from the area were able to be driven out due heavy water that covered houses and road. The water is stagnant and it seems to rain again in the night.”
Engineer Lijam, who is the Coordinator of Clean Benue in the area, explained that the canal built to channel water to the river has been filled with sand, expressing the hope that governor Hyacinth Alia administration will come to their aid.
Prior to the rainfall, residents of Makurdi were told to relocate to safer grounds to avoid being caught up in the impending flood.
Commissioner in charge of Ministry of Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Odoh Ogwu, gave this counsel when he visited Greater Makurdi Water Works, banks of River Benue, among other areas, few days after assuming duty.
Mr Ogwu stated that in view of warnings from relevant authorities regarding the impending flood, there was the need for residents living within the river banks to relocate to safer areas to avoid being affected by the disaster.
To this end, the Commissioner assured that the ministry is putting in place mechanisms to reduce the impact of the flood through opening up of drainage channels that have blocked water ways to allow free flow of water, adding that government is committed to improving sanitation in the state.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had alerted that several states including Benue would be flooded when water from the Cameroonian Lagdo dam is released in the course of the year.
About the Author
