Several homes have been submerged by floodwaters in Achusa Community, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, following torrential rainfall that has displaced residents and destroyed valuable property.
The downpour left many families stranded as rising water swept through residential areas, forcing affected residents to move to safer locations and seek shelter with relatives.
Residents described the incident as one of the most severe flooding episodes to hit the community in recent years.
Many households reportedly lost personal belongings and other property worth millions of naira.
Governor Hyacinth Alia has visited some of the affected areas and ordered an immediate assessment of the damage.
He also directed relevant government agencies to work on measures to tackle the recurring flooding in the community.
A government delegation led by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Solomon Iorpev, was subsequently sent to Achusa for an on-the-spot assessment.
The team included the Commissioners for Water Resources and Environment, Odoh Ugwu; Works and Housing, Kuma Iyenge; and the General Manager of the Benue State Urban Development Board, Ter Mede.
Speaking during the inspection, Iorpev said the government was concerned about the hardship caused by the flood and was determined to address the problem.
He said Alia was particularly disturbed by the scale of the destruction when he visited the area and had consequently directed government ministries to begin immediate intervention.
However, the assessment also uncovered a major factor behind the recurring flooding. Officials said several structures had been erected on waterways and flood-prone areas, restricting the natural movement of water.
The government said it was already pursuing a longer-term solution through infrastructure development.
According to the assessment team, construction work on the Hotel Lucia-Achusa road is progressing, with drainage channels being built to direct stormwater towards the River Benue.
Iyenge said the drainage system was designed to improve water flow and reduce the risk of future flooding.
“The drainage project is designed to give stormwater a clear path to the River Benue and significantly reduce the flooding problem,” he said.
As part of the immediate response, the government ordered the removal of structures built directly across identified waterways to restore drainage routes.
Officials, however, said eligible property owners whose buildings are affected by the exercise would receive compensation.
The government warned residents against constructing buildings without the necessary approvals from the Benue State Urban Development Board.
It also announced plans to intensify public awareness in Achusa on the dangers of building along waterways and floodplains.
Community leaders welcomed the government’s intervention but appealed for a broader compensation arrangement.
Speaking for the residents, Prof. Iorhen Yechor and Hon. Terfa Abe said repeated flooding had caused severe hardship, with some families losing virtually everything.
They urged the state government to consider the plight of all affected residents when determining compensation, regardless of disputes over the legality of individual structures.
The community leaders also called for faster completion of the Hotel Lucia-Achusa road and drainage project, saying a permanent solution was urgently needed to prevent the community from facing the same disaster every rainy season.
Meanwhile, floodwaters were gradually receding in parts of Achusa as residents began assessing the damage and counting their losses.