15,000 rendered homeless as flood submerges seven communities in Benue
No fewer than 15,000 persons have been rendered homeless as flood wreaked havocs in Benue communities during the weekend.
The affected areas include Benue radio station and Wurukum Market.
Other communities affected were Welfare Quarters, Benue State University community, New Kanshio village, Rice Mill Wadata, as well as Idye and Achusa villages.The State Commissioners for Land, Survey and Solid Minerals, Bernard Unenge, and Water Resources and Environment, Joseph Utsev, went round the town for situation report on Sunday.
Mr. Ustev explained that the ministry needed adequate funds to mitigate the situation, adding that the disaster was caused by blocked drainages in some areas.
He urged the federal government to include Benue among the states to benefit from the N1.6 billion ecological intervention funds for states affected by flood disasters.
He said, “Benue Government is looking for ways in which River Benue can be dredged. This is because by dredging the river, majority of the water can be accommodated to prevent future overflow.
“The ongoing research so far, showed that the preliminary study will cost about N8 billion while the main project will gulp about N300 billion.
“This is where we need federal government financial intervention to execute the project, since the funds are much.”
