FLOOD: BENUE GOVT URGES RESIDENTS TO MOVE TO SAFER GROUNDS, CLEARS DRAINAGES
In preparation to curtail the impact of the impending flood this year, the Benue State Government has warned residents living along the river banks to move their households to higher and safer grounds.
Recall that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had warned of flood recently listing 30 States including Benue as those with high risk of being flooded this year.
The state Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Ugwu Odoh, said the state government has put in place adequate measures to handle any effects that might occur.
Odoh who spoke to newsmen in his office in Makurdi, said that the state government has already began sensitization of people living in the identified areas to be affected while adequate preparation had been made to tackle evacuate those in the areas.
He noted cases of flood is no longer a new thing for those in Benue, saying even last year, many areas in Benue were also flooded.
“Benue is usually a flash point as regards to flooding because it’s something that happens on yearly basis and on our part we have put certain measures in place to make sure that the impact or the effects of flood as a result of the rains or water release from the Ladgo Dam is put in check.
“When we got the alert from NiMet, we decided to put in place modalities in place. The first thing we did was to get the people informed, create awareness through various forms of communication via the radio, television stations and physical visitation to the communities and those areas that will be prone to flood.
“We made them see reasons why they should move from those areas before the flood comes. We are also telling them that government has provided a kind of safe havens for them where to stay and be well taking care of.
“Another measures that we have taken is embarking on clearing of drainages around the city centers and its environs. We will continue to do that to ensure that at the end of the day our people are not badly affected by the flood,” he stated.
He lamented that despite the government’s effort, some residents residing along the bank of the river are proving stubborn and refusing to leave the areas.
The commissioner stated that the government of Governor Hyacinth Alia attaches importance to human lives and will continue to press on them until they move to higher and safer grounds.
“Even those who are having businesses around those areas especially those operating block industries, we have advised them to shift from those areas of flooding to higher grounds pending when the flood is over.
According to him, the government is currently working on the financial budget that will enable it cater for those that will be evacuated from the flood prone areas.
He disclosed that the state government has informed owners of buildings erected on water channels to vacate the areas while the ministry has already set up a committee in conjunction with the state Urban Development Board preparatory to bring down all those houses without approval from the board.
“Those houses that are sitting on major waterways, will be brought down. There are also some shops that were built blocking the waterway along the Wurukum market and Benue links axis, we have removed them especially those ones around the Benue Links to give way for water flow to River Benue.,” he said.
He appealed to the people in the identified areas to help the government by obeying relocation instructions as the state is doing all it can to avert major flooding this year.
From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
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