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From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
The Executive Secretary Benue State Emergency Management Agency, (BSEMA), Mr James Iorpuu, has decried the incessant blockage of major water channels and small households’ drainages in Makurdi and its environs.
He said the state government will do everything within its powers to ensure that flash floods in the city becomes a thing of the past.
Iorpuu spoke while inspecting sampled blocked major water channels at the Benue Links Park, Wurukum, Peugeot Service Hub Drain Point, at Kanshio and Ambilla Water Channel at Kilometer 5, Gboko Road, all in Makurdi.
He said the inspection is part of preparation to mitigate the negative impact of 2023 flash floods as predicted by the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA).
Recall that Benue State has being in the eye of the storm over flood for more than a decade now. The perennial flooding has rendered many residents homeless with many of the victims staying in Internally Displaced Persons, (IDP), camps littered across the state.
Iorpuu disclosed that SEMA has inaugurated a technical team to look at possible ways of floods mitigation with the State Urban Development Boarde as a key player and other development partners.
He noted that Urban Development Board is conducting the team round the major water channel where people have deliberately developed on major water channels to enable the do an assessment with a view to correcting them.
Speaking during the inspection, Benue State Secretary, the Nigerian Red Cross, Mr. Anthony Aba commended state government for the moves saying mitigating flood in the state particularly in Makurdi, is a right step in the right direction.
On his part, Acting General Manager, Benue State Urban Development Board, Ternongo Mede represented by Robert Ashiekaa urged the State Government to assist the team with necessary logistics to aid the demolition of illegal structures built on water ways across the city.
