Benue gov’t demolishes buildings on waterway

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

The Benue state government has disclosed that in a bid to ending flood especially flash flood in the state, it has started demolition at the Mechanic village in Kanshio, Welfare quarters and other parts of the State to ensure that when rain falls, there will be easy passage for it.
This disclosure was made by the State Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management Aondowase Kunde.
Kunde said, “we are working on contingency and resettlement plans in the next two (2) weeks.
“ I will be traveling to Burkina Faso next week to learn their model on resettlement of flood victims and other areas of security, humanitarian and development so that we can work on our own model.
“Once we work on our model, we will come up with a road map on flooding. Those who built on waterways, their houses will be demolished.
“We have already started demolition at the Mechanic village in Kanshio, Welfare quarters and other parts of the State to ensure that when rain falls, there will be easy passage for it.
“On the dredging of River Benue, we have written to the Federal Government that is working on dredging of the River.
“The River has been overflowed by sand and when the dredging is done, the depth of the River can hold water such that even if Ladgo dam is opened, it can carry it and this issue of flooding will be put to rest”.
Meanwhile, Save the Children International (SCI) says it is committed to intervening to avert flooding in Benue state.
Deputy Country Director, SCI Jane Mbagi Mútua who said this while speaking to newsmen at Gyado villa in Makurdi, intimated that the organization identified certain flood prone areas in Makurdi metropolises and constituted early warning signs committee to avert flooding in the area.
She said, “there are communities that are prone to flooding. Must we always wait for flooding to take place and people displaced before we take action and we said no.
“What can we do to ensure that they are not impacted by the flood? So, we work with communities to set up the Early Warning Sign committee who work within their communities to ensure that they are not impacted by the flood.
“Whether is clearing drainage because we know these are things that cause flooding or moving people to safer areas or building dyches to avert flooding. In Gyado villa, we have given the Committee over 2 million naira”.
On his part, Samuel Igbudu, Leader Early Warning Signs Committee, Gyado Villa said over 200 households, who were impacted by flood, received relief from SCI.
Igbudu disclosed that the sum of over 2.4 million naira was given to the committee to mitigate flooding in the area, stating that they engaged in clearing of drainage by removing sands and plastic, mobilized community traditional Chiefs as well as sensitized the people against flooding.
“We also, interfaced with children on flooding by engaging and getting feedbacks from them.”